Curator

Arkansas State; Jonesboro (AR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro seeks a Curator of Education to lead and evaluate its informal learning programs, tours, and events. You will bridge campus and community by translating collections and scholarship into accessible learning experiences for K-12, college students, and general audiences.

Reporting to the Museum Director, you will collaborate with faculty, staff, volunteers, and partners; supervise work-study students; and contribute to long-range planning, grants, and

Qualifications

• Work experience in museums or other informal education environments; skills in interpretation and object-based learning practices.
• Familiarity with accessibility, cultural competency, and inclusive interpretive practices.
• Experience in university/college museums or small museum settings is a plus.
• Candidates should be creative and budget-minded.
• Work environment includes office and exhibition space with periods of physical activity.

Responsibilities

• Lead in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of all the museum’s informal education programs, including tours, traveling suitcase exhibits (TSEs), special classes, events, etc.
• Ensure programs complement the mission, exhibits, and collections of the museum; suit various learning levels and styles.
• Lead K-12 tours linked to state curriculum.
• Liaise with schools, co-ops, scouts, adults or other groups to schedule tours, programs, or events; ensure relevancy of the museum programs to client needs.
• Plan and deliver K-12 teacher professional development when requested.
• Interact with university faculty and staff to promote student visitorship and develop programs intersecting with campus curriculum.

Skills

Museum education

Interpretation

Accessibility knowledge

Public speaking

Collaboration

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, History, Art History, Education, Anthropology, or related field

Master’s degree preferred in Museum Studies, History, Art History, Education, Anthropology or related field

Job description

Please note: all position postings close at 12:00 A.M. CST on the position closing date

Please note: Allpostings close at 12 A.M. CST on theclosing date. This employer participates in E-Verify.

Position Summary:

The Curator is responsible for guiding the museum’s educational initiatives including tours (K-12, university students, adults), events, classes, etc. within a cooperative and collaborative team atmosphere. This position supports the museum within its parent organization and provides a bridge for the campus to diverse audiences; it helps translate collections, exhibits, and scholarship into learning experiences. Duties are often completed with considerable independence under the general supervision of the Museum Director/Curator of Collections, and alongside the Curator of Exhibitions. The Curator of Education will be a member of the Curatorial Committee, the group that guides critical museum decisions and functions, including strategic program, exhibition, and collections development. The position also may meet regularly with members of the Museum Advisory Council, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting the museum and its mission. Arkansas State University Museum, an AAM accredited museum, serves the academic mission of the university and provides quality programming to the people of Northeast Arkansas and the Northern Mississippi River Delta region. The Curator of Education is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week staff position.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of all the museum’s informal education programs, including tours, traveling suitcase exhibits (TSEs), special classes, events, etc.
• Ensure that programs complement the mission, exhibits, and collections of the museum; suit various learning levels and styles
• Lead K-12 tours that are linked to state curriculum.
• Liaise with schools, co-ops, scouts, adults or other groups to schedule tours, programs, or events; ensure relevancy of the museum programs to client needs.
• Plan and deliver K-12 teacher professional development when requested.
• Interact with university faculty and staff to: promote student visitorship, develop programs/tours intersecting with campus curriculum, and work directly with graduate and undergraduate students.
• Serve as needed on university-wide initiatives and work in collaboration with other museums governed by the university. Works in collaboration with the Director and members of the Museum Advisory Council.
• Schedules and manages work-study students and volunteers.
• Develop and coordinate media/press releases related to the museums’ programs, events and exhibitions (with director and university communications office approval); appear on various media outlets promoting museum activities.
• Serves as a key player in museum’s long-range planning, grant writing, exhibition development, etc.
• Develop and implement methods to evaluate educational programming, including visitor participation, learning outcomes, accessibility, audience satisfaction, and community engagement. Use assessment findings to inform future programming and support the museum’s strategic planning and accreditation responsibilities.
• The above description and qualifications are not all-inclusive and represent the majority of key responsibilities for this position. Additional collaborative responsibilities assigned as needed

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Work experience in museums or other informal education environments; skills in interpretation and object-based learning practices.
• Familiarity with accessibility, cultural competency, and inclusive interpretive practices.
• Work experience in university/college museums or small museum settings is a plus.
• Candidates should be creative and budget-minded.
• Work environment is a combination of office setting and exhibition floor; periods of extensive physical activity are expected as exhibition/education space is spread out over two floors of galleries.
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends may be required to fulfill program requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of museum best practices in museum education.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills are required, as this position works with other museum staff, university faculty, on-campus and off-campus collaborators, media, and provides mentorship opportunities for students.
• This position is governed by state and federal laws and institutional policies.

General Days/Hours:

Monday through Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends may be required to fulfill program requirements
Regular and reliable attendance

Please note: all position postings close at 12:00 A.M. CST on the position closing date

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree preferred in Museum Studies, History, Art History, Education, Anthropology or a closely related field.

3-5 years of experience preferred, emphasizing education in informal learning environments.

Minimum Qualifications:

A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, History, Art History, Education, Anthropology, or a closely related field, plus additional years of training or experience.

Submitted material should include a letter of interest, resumé, teaching statement regarding education in an informal learning environment, and 3-4 references with complete information.