Curator of Education

Cranbrook Art Museum seeks a Curator of Education to join its team. The Curator of Education will help develop, implement, manage, and evaluate the museum’s educational and interpretive programming, and be a key member of the staff in strategizing new programs and initiatives to expand the museum’s engagement with the community, both on and beyond campus.

Cranbrook Art Museum serves elementary school students from Detroit Public Schools through onsite initiatives. Additionally, the museum serves students from Cranbrook Schools, a private preK-12 college preparatory system, and Cranbrook Academy of Art, which offers master’s degrees through its well-regarded programs in art, architecture, craft, and design. The museum boasts a state-of-the-art Collections Wing facility, which provides on-site storage for its collection of more than 7,500 objects of 20th and 21st -century art and design, which is accessible to classes and the public via guided tours. In 2017, the museum opened its Art Lab, a dedicated studio classroom space for both wet and dry media.

Located on the grounds of the Cranbrook Educational Community in suburban Detroit, the Art Museum sits at the heart of a 319 -acre bucolic campus surrounded by buildings designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Art Museum’s activities reach beyond the campus and include extensive public art engagements throughout the city of Detroit created in partnership with its vibrant cultural community. Cranbrook Art Museum originates most of its acclaimed exhibitions, often co-organized with national museum partners, that advance scholarship in the field.

We seek a highly motivated and entrepreneurial colleague who can build upon our recent successes and expand our engagement with learners of all kinds and ages. The successful candidate will be someone who can dutifully sustain and improve our current activities, while identifying key opportunities for strategic growth, and support our efforts for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable society.

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution. We also offer generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays, employee discounts, and a unique environment in an educational setting that values collaboration.

Compensation: $68,000 to $72,000/ yearly

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Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Sustaining and improving current educational programs and initiatives undertaken by the Art Museum. Analyze current offerings and identify potential new areas for engagement.
• Collaborate with curatorial and other museum staff to develop and review interpretive materials and strategies for temporary exhibitions, permanent collection displays, and educational programs.
• Support and expand educational outreach to preK-12 schools both on and off campus. Expand the Art Museum’s connections with teachers in the Metro Detroit area.
• Collaboratively develop programs and budgets while managing and planning multiple education programs running simultaneously on and off campus.
• Working with Cranbrook’s development team to help identify and pursue funding opportunities for educational programming.
• Prepare and edit descriptive materials for all educational programming for print and digital media.
• Collaborate with Cranbrook Schools faculty and their students to engage the collections, exhibitions, and programs of the Art Museum, including innovative projects and programs that extend into all aspects of the curriculum.
• Collaborate with other campus units, such as the Cranbrook Institute of Science on the development, implementation, and evaluation of STEAM-based programs, projects, and initiatives, and with the Center for Collections and Research on public, group, and private tours of campus and museum collections.
• Develop a comprehensive plan for evaluating the impact of educational programs.
• Strategize the development of new programs that will engage audiences not currently served by the museum, including those that will enhance revenues.
• Support and help lead the Art Museum’s initiatives around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Help develop and provide tours of the museum and its collection to a range of constituents including museum visitors, campus colleagues, board members, students and faculty, sponsors, and visiting museum professionals, as needed.
• Represent the Art Museum at regional educational conferences, gatherings, and activities.
• Foster and maintain relationships with community organizations to co-develop and cross-promote programming that will attract new audiences to the Museum while supporting community functions.
• Assist in the training of staff and volunteers in matters of visitor engagement and the interpretation of art.

Supervisory Responsibilities: The Curator of Education supervises all full and part-time staff, including some work study students and volunteers.

Requirements:

• An M.A. or PhD in art history, museum studies, fine arts, design, education, or other relevant area.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in a museum educational context, with experience managing a team.
• Excellent writing, speaking, and presentation skills; an outgoing personality; the ability to engage with and motivate a variety of audiences ranging from school children to senior citizens.
• Broad knowledge of 20th-century and contemporary art and design.
• Previous experience developing and implementing innovative educational programming. Curriculum development and knowledge of Michigan educational standards is a plus.
• A valid Michigan driver’s license with satisfactory driving record is required.

Education Assistants help present educational programs in the topics of art, architecture, and design for a variety of constituents at the Cranbrook Art Museum. Education Assistants demonstrate excellent presentation, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. Familiarity with a range of artmaking, art education, design, and art historical topics are required.

The Education Assistant position is part-time, working approximately 20 hours per week. The schedule will vary and may require a weekend or evening assignment. The employment period runs through June 2024 with the possibility to extend. Hourly Rate: $19/hr

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Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Working closely with the larger education and visitor experience team, assisting with the development of materials for programs and presentations.
• May be responsible for writing protocols, demonstrations, and/or program plans; may oversee a program or part of a program, and be responsible for its development, planning, and execution.
• Effectively present information and work with diverse audiences in an articulate, thoughtful, and enthusiastic manner; adapting programs in response to age, ability, and feedback of participants.
• Explain class material and perform demonstrations as needed for groups of visitors or school groups.
• Answer questions from visitors and school groups as needed about the museum and its programs.
• Maintain program storage area, supplies, teaching materials, equipment, and logs.
• Maintain attendance, punctuality, and performance standards set forth in Cranbrook’s employee handbook.

• A high school degree or GED and college level Studio Art, Art History, or Art Education courses are required, a Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of one year experience teaching a variety of ages, either in a formal or informal setting.
• Must have high energy and enthusiasm necessary to work with families and young children.
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Customer service experience and the ability to effectively work with varied constituents including the public, school personnel, students, and volunteers.
• Ability to adapt program materials, presentation style, and/or delivery as needed to provide age-appropriate instruction. Must be able to problem solve on the spot as issues arise. Adept at taking initiative, working without continuous supervision, and working as a team member.
• Requires a Michigan driver’s license with satisfactory driving record, and access to a vehicle for travel related to educational outreach programs.