Description:
The Studio Programs Assistant – Temporary supports and facilitates drop-in art-making opportunities that inspire multigenerational audiences to explore creative experimentation, to spark generative looking and thinking about art, education, landscape and music, and to help visitors make their own connections to art found in the Museum’s collection and special exhibitions.
This position includes helping manage communication with and meet with visiting artists, welcoming and helping visiting artists and overseeing general maintenance of the Studio, set ups, and inventory, and supporting an inclusive visitor experience.
The Studio Programs Assistant – Temporary collaborates with local teaching artists and members of the programs team on planning and implementing a range of dynamic, drop-in art-making activities for Saturday Open Studios. The Studio Programs Assistant – Temporary will work with visiting artists on an already established project that aligns their projects with the institutional strategic plan, audience development goals, as well as the Education and Public Programs vision.
The temporary, part-time position requires working Saturdays and select Thursday evenings through January 18, 2025.
Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities
- Supports and facilitates engaging hands-on, art-making projects for general visitors of all ages for Saturday Open Studios and select Free First Thursdays programming.
- Manages the Polly Thayer Starr (PTS) Visiting Studio Artist Program with support from the Esther Stiles Eastman Curator of Education, the Director of Public Programs, and the Public Programs team. Works with a diverse range of local teaching artists with robust creative practices, who are invited to develop and lead hands-on art-making projects in the Museum’s Studio for Museum visitors. Assists and communicates with PTS Visiting Studio Artist.
- Along with other Education staff, helps maintain Studio space, keeping it organized and accessible.
- Regularly communicates with supervisor for supply requests.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
Required
- Candidate for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with an interest in Studio Art or Art Education, or related field or commensurate experience.
- Have a general understanding of art-making materials and studio practice.
- At least one year’s experience creating studio art projects and leading art-making activities with diverse audiences, including adults and children.
- Experience working with the public, guest artists, and community organizations.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, a sense of humor, and ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent computer skills including Google Workspace.
- Commitment to advancing the ISGM’s diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) initiatives.
- Ability to work required schedule on Saturdays and on first Thursdays.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States.
Desirable
- Interest in connections between historic and contemporary art.
- Experience with inquiry-based pedagogies.
- A passion for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s mission, 2019-2024 institutional strategic plan, and the intersection of art and social justice.
- Experience managing interns, volunteers, and/or staff.
- Bilingual language skills desired; Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, or Portuguese a plus.
Competencies
- Teamwork and collaboration.
- Creativity and innovation.
- Analytical and forward thinking.
- Initiative.