Job Description

Job no: 524146
Work type: Staff Part Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Fine Arts Center
Union: PSU
Categories: Theater/Performing Arts

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

About the Fine Arts Center

Since its founding in 1975, the UMass Fine Arts Center has been a central force in the cultural, social, and academic life of the University, the Five College campuses, and the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The Fine Arts Center's combination of educational, visual, and performing arts programs not only makes us unique, but it also secures a very vital and necessary position to meet the diverse needs of scholars, faculty, students, alumni, and the broader community.

Job Summary

The UMCA Education Coordinator manages the core educational programs of the University Museum of Contemporary Art (UMCA), including class visits, public programs and the Student Museum Educator Program. They are responsible for the conception, development, implementation, oversight and management of education programs and audience engagement platforms catering to local and regional audiences; the 5-College academic community; middle and high school students, teachers, and adult learners in the Pioneer Valley, including the Amherst, Springfield and Holyoke communities. Essential components of this position are piloting innovative, inclusive, and culturally enriching initiatives for both internal and external stakeholders in accordance with best practices, and harnessing effective new visual learning, teaching, and interpretative strategies to increase a sense of belonging and to welcome new audiences to the UMCA.

Essential Functions

• Designs and teaches the weekly for-credit Museum Education Practicum course (including recruitment and training of undergraduate students) each semester.
• Manages returning Student Museum Educators to lead tours for class visits.
• Plans and organizes educational programs in conjunction with Museum exhibitions and permanent collections or as complimentary programs or activities.
• Arranges and promotes lecture, panel discussions, symposia, etc. by visiting artists, curators, critics, educators, and scholars.
• Plans, manages, and gives interpretive tours to students of all ages and community groups.
• Works with UMCA staff to provide public with educational materials (catalogues, brochures, invitations, newsletter, hand-outs, text panels, educational kits, etc.) Liaises with academic departments throughout the University and works with faculty across multiple disciplines to promote the museum.
• Assists with Annual Curatorial Fellowship Exhibition Program (includes 2-4 graduate level students.)
• Works with museum staff to formulate, facilitate and advance programming and curricular connections among temporary exhibitions, UMCA's Permanent collection and the university's pedagogical and cultural offerings.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's degree.
• Two (2) years of experience performing an education function in a museum or art-based organizational setting.
• Varied teaching experience is preferred, with ability to work with different age groups from high school students to college age students and adult visitors.
• Experience integrating arts into an interdisciplinary curriculum.
• Demonstrated interest in and willingness to learn about new subjects and material outside of established areas of expertise.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with academic and visual arts colleagues, university students and faculty.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's degree in Art History, Art Education, Studio Art, Museum Studies or a related field.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office/museum environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, day-time hours.
• Part-time, benefited position (18.75 hours per week).
• Some nights and weekends required.

Salary Information

Level 26

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your resume along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Jul 9 2024 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Oct 13 2024 Eastern Daylight Time

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