The Laguna Art Museum, a museum of California art, seeks qualified candidates for the position of Curator of Education. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Curator of Education is charged with developing and overseeing all educational programs of the institution. He or she works with children, families, students, docents, and the general public, and devises programs that relate both to special exhibitions and to the museum’s permanent collection. In an institution that is growing and changing under the leadership of a new executive director, the Curator of Education will be encouraged to use his or her creativity and initiative to re-think and build afresh the whole educational effort. The museum seeks candidates of some maturity and experience who are none the less willing to work in an engaged, hands-on way to make the educational programs successful and effective.
The responsibilities and duties of the position include:
- Development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of all educational initiatives and programs, responsive to current thinking in the fields of museum education, education theory, and informal learning.
- Training, supervision, mentorship, and expansion of the docent corps, working with both the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.
- Making presentations to the public, as well as to member groups, the board of trustees, and staff.
- Attending museum functions and orchestrating weekend educational activities as needed.
- Working closely with the museum’s curatorial team to implement and promote exhibition goals and the mission of the institution.
- Supporting the development department with educational content for grant proposals and donor and marketing materials; providing input on prospective sources of funding of educational programming. Stewarding relationships with current and prospective funders.
- Developing, managing, and tracking the department budget
Capabilities and experience required:
Qualified candidates will have an B.A. in Art History or a related field and a minimum of four years of museum experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Candidates should also possess excellent interpersonal, communication, and teaching skills, as well as experience working on cross-departmental teams, supervising staff and/or volunteers and interns, and managing budgets. Candidates must be familiar with best practices in the field of museum interpretation, and with current strategies for reaching varied audiences. Technical literacy and familiarity with new technologies in mobile interpretation is highly desirable.
Deadline: Until position is filled.
Applications and nominations should be directed to:
Executive Director
Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Drive
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
E-mail: mwarner@lagunaartmuseum.org
Phone: (949)494-8971, ext. 202
Fax: (949)494-1530
Applications should include a cover letter and resumé.