Interim Public Programs Manager

Full-time, temporary/contract position     September 17, 2015

Term:  6 months (with potential renewal for additional period)

The Wadsworth Atheneum, the oldest continually operating public art museum in the United States, was founded by Daniel Wadsworth, who opened the museum in 1842 with his collection of about 80 paintings, many purchased directly from the artists. Today the collection exceeds 50,000 works of art, spanning more than 5,000 years.  The Wadsworth Atheneum has always been a resource for the local community, as we work to welcome new and existing audiences.   Our programs inspire participants to embrace the Wadsworth as their place to come together and experience the power of art.

The Wadsworth Atheneum is seeking an Interim Public Programs Manager, whose primary responsibilities are to conceive, implement, market, and evaluate a rigorous and broad range of public programs designed to provide adult and family visitors with meaningful arts experiences directly connected to the museum’s collections and special exhibitions.  Programs may include lectures, gallery talks, concerts, art history classes and drawing courses in the galleries.

The Interim Public Programs Manager position requires flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Interim Public Programs Manager focuses on the following key areas:

ADULT PROGRAMS

 Plan collection-related and special exhibition programming that presents educational opportunities for museum audiences, and administer the public programs in collaboration with museum Curators, the Development Department, and community colleagues.

 Work with the Director of Education and the Development Department to secure funding for public programs; ensure that all funding stipulations are fulfilled in compliance with program grants.

FAMILY PROGRAMS

 Develop and manage monthly Second Saturdays for Families with programming for a broad and diverse public.

 Participate in the development of in-gallery resources and interpretive materials designed for family-specific audiences.

ADMINISTRATION AND TEACHING

 Cultivate and maintain already established professional relationships and coordinate events with co-sponsors and community partners.

 Supervise Resident Teaching Artist and activities associated with position.

 Develop assessment strategies and documentation for programs.

 Serve as educator in galleries and off-site for adults, school and university groups, teacher workshops, special courses and lectures.

 Edit in-gallery didactic material including wall text and labels.

QUALIFICATIONS:

 Bachelor’s degree (preferably Master’s degree) in Art History, Museum Education or related field.

 Minimum of two (2) years museum experience preferred.

 Strong knowledge of museum education theory and practice as well as art history.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

 Must have the capacity to work in close cooperation with a wide range of people including museum staff and the community.

 Excellent verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.

 Ability to manage multiple projects.

 Budget management skills.

 Superior writing and editing skills.

 Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.

 Aptitude in MS Office programs including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

 Must be able to stand for several consecutive hours to manage programs.  Frequent use of stairs required.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should send their resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to:

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

600 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103

Or Email HR@wadsworthatheneum.org

Attn: HR Department

(No phone calls please.)

Deadline for applications:  October 5, 2015

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.