Month: October 1971 (Page 2 of 3)

Dear museum educators,

I am pleased to forward the following job opening for the newly
announced position of Director of Education and Academic Affairs at the
Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin. Those
interested in applying, please send a note of introduction and your
resume to Stacey Cilek at stacey.cilek@blantonmuseum.org by October 21.

Blanton Museum of Art
Director of Education and Academic Affairs

Purpose: Reporting to the Director, this position is responsible for
overseeing the operation of the Education and Academic Affairs
Department of the Blanton Museum of Art including the development,
implementation, and evaluation of all education and outreach programs
that serve the University and public community. The position works
closely with other museum departments and fosters collaborative
relationships with other areas of the University as well as
organizations outside the University.

Essential functions:
1) Responsible for developing a cohesive vision and strategy for the
museum¹s Education and Academic Affairs Department for both university
audiences and the general public. Manage the department¹s programs,
staff, and budget.
2) Lead a team of staff members to develop a museum-wide interpretive
plan for The Blanton¹s diverse audience. Work closely with curators
and other museum staff to implement strategies for interpretation.
3) Develop collaborative relationships with a wide range of academic
departments and university programs to foster the use of the Blanton
collection and special exhibitions as an integral resource in teaching
students across disciplines with special emphasis on integrating the use
of Blanton resources with major university initiatives. Work with other
museum departments to develop and implement strategies that facilitate
this effort.
4) Manage an interdisciplinary program at The Blanton that invites
scholars outside of the museum to augment the study of the collection
beyond the expertise of museum staff and to contribute to the research
and planning of exhibitions and other museum programs. Work closely with
curators through the process.
5) Oversee and develop a cohesive vision for the Blanton internship
program, which currently includes volunteer undergraduate student
interns across departments as well as paid graduate student curatorial
interns.
6) Provide direction in engaging the wider university student body in
self-initiated, out-of- class visits to the museum that promote a
lifelong love of the arts among students.
7) Oversee the implementation of programs for museum members and the
general public such as lectures and music events developed in
collaboration with other museum departments.
8) Oversee K-12 outreach programs developed in close collaboration with
area school staff, appropriate university staff and faculty, and other
organizations involved in the advocacy and development of K-12 visual
arts education.
9) Oversee family programs including the assessment of potential growth
and the development of collaborations with local organizations in this
area.
10) Oversee the 50-year-old docent program with a corps of more than 60
volunteers.
11) Provide direction in developing and oversee the implementation of
an overarching strategy to use information technology to enhance the
interpretation of the permanent collection and exhibitions of both
loaned objects and works from the collection; to provide tools and
resources for study, research, and teaching; and to document and
disseminate programs through the Internet.
12) Develop and implement an evaluation plan that qualitatively and
quantitatively measures programs in the Education and Academic Affairs
Department.
13) Work with museum staff to develop fundraising strategies for
Education and Academic Affairs Department programs and actively
participate in the solicitation process.
14) Cultivate a culture of excellence in the Education and Academic
Affairs Department t
hat distinguishes the museum as a leader and develop
programs that serve as a model for university art museums. Serve on
professional committees.

Required qualifications:
1) Masters Degree in Art History or related field.
2) Seven years experience in museum education and/or in developing
interpretive materials and programs.
3) Equivalent combination or relevant education and experience may be
substituted as appropriate.
4) Excellent written and oral communication skills.
5) Demonstrated ability to provide creative and intellectual oversight
and a proven ability to work collaboratively with others.

Preferred qualifications:
1) PhD in Art History or related field.
2) Familiarity with the academic environment and the ability to work
cross-departmentally with curatorial and other museum staff.
3) Demonstrated ability to develop interpretive programs for a range of
audiences both public and academic.
4) Familiarity with the use of new technologies in developing
interpretive materials.
5) Curatorial experience.