Job Description

Now Hiring: Two-Year, Full Time Position in Public Humanities at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site (TCNHS) is seeking full time person with a recent MA or PhD degree to fill a two-year “Position in Public Humanities”, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, starting immediately. The new position will be a part of our project team that is implementing a new interpretive exhibition at the historic site. The position’s primary goal and function will be connecting the exhibition with new audiences, with an emphasis on geographic and demographic groups that have not attended the TCNHS in large numbers in the past.

The position reports to Project Director, Elizabeth Jacks, and works closely with the project team including TCNHS Director of Education, Director of Exhibitions and Collections, trustees, and project scholars. The new position will be an integral part of the team and will attend and participate in all project meetings. This role is dedicated to making sure audiences remain front-and-center as the new interpretation and exhibitions are implemented, and intentionally combines audience research, evaluation, outreach, and engagement.

Tasks will include:

?  Assist with the design and execution of project evaluation at all stages of the two-year period, from up-front focus groups to measurement of visitor learning and goal achievement once the exhibition has opened.

?  Conduct new research about audience preferences and visitation patterns at historic sites in the Hudson Valley by interviewing front-line staff (docents, gift shop employees, etc.) and observing tours and other visitor activities first-hand.

?  Conduct tours at the TCNHS and observe other tours in order to evaluate audience reactions.

?  Conduct primary source research using the Thomas Cole archives and nearby collections such as the New York State Archives in Albany to identify specific quotes and passages for the discussions with patrons and other guests that is planned for the West Parlour.

?  Attend lectures and conferences that shed light on new interpretive practices and innovations in the field. Monitor blogs and publications that contain fresh voices in museum education and outreach and report back to the project team on a continual basis.

?  Design, plan, and execute three different public programs at the TCNHS that are each designed to reach a different target audience segment, including local residents who may have not visited previously.

?  Establish a contact person at ten to fifteen schools in the region and gather information about what kinds of programs would interest them in bringing children to visit the TCNHS. Expand the number of school groups that visit the TCNHS each year from the current number (5-7 groups) to at least ten.

?  Monitor and update social media outlets with the TCNHS such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, recording insights into audience perceptions of the TCNHS and sharing these insights with staff. Build a larger social media presence for the TCNHS.

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Email Address: tmetzing@thomascole.org