What are the responsibilities and job description for the School Programs Teaching Artist position at Brooklyn Museum?
School Programs Teaching Artist
Museum overview
The Brooklyn Museum is a world-renowned cultural institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing art, history, and heritage. Our mission is to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act. Our vision is to serve as an institution where art is a powerful force for personal transformation and social change. Celebrating our differences and learning about our diverse communities through our collections, exhibitions, and programming is the core of who we are and what we do.
We are committed to creating and cultivating a community of talented, passionate people who are inspired to make the Museum an important hub of community activity and a great global destination. Our staff have the opportunity to grow their professional skills and work collaboratively with colleagues they admire and respect. Read more about our story here.
About the role
The mission of the School Programs Department is to foster critical thinking skills and build paths to creating empathetic communities that enhance learners’ understanding of themselves, others and the world. Teaching Artists plan and lead object-based lessons for K-12 students, drawing on best practices in gallery teaching to support students in making curricular connections through close looking, guided inquiry, and multimodal engagement. Lessons primarily take place at the museum from Wednesday through Friday, with occasional virtual or in-school programming on other days. Schedules are determined based on Teaching Artists’ availability and on school schedules. School Programs Managers collaborate with Teaching Artists to ensure that our programs provide learners with fun and rigorous explorations of the collections, curricular content and the museum.
Please see below with regards to responsibilities, compensation and some additional information.
Responsibilities:
- Develop, teach and document inquiry-based lessons for K-12 audiences that engage students in critical thinking and exploration of permanent collections and special exhibitions in the museum and/or classroom.
- Submit all lesson plans, completed assessment tools, and other forms of documentation to School Programs staff after each lesson or partnership.
- Commit to deadlines regarding first drafts and final drafts of lesson plans as determined with School Programs staff and classroom teachers
- Adhere to Museum protocols including but not limited to exhibition logistics and restrictions, interactions with school groups, administrative deadlines, lesson planning meetings, and feedback and review.
- Uphold the Brooklyn Museum’s commitment to equity and inclusion through culturally responsive and socially just engagement with our diverse audiences and staff.
Requirements:
- 2-3 years of experience designing and implementing object-based lessons for K-12 audiences in museums, schools, and/or virtually.
- Knowledge of best practices in gallery teaching, including inquiry-based learning, youth development, and/or arts integration strategies.
- BA or BFA in education, art, art history, history, literature, museum education or related field.
- Familiarity with New York City Department of Education learning standards.
- Ability to commit at least 2 hours of teaching Monday-Friday each week from mid-October 2022 through June 2023. Preference of teaching times will be given to educators who can commit to consistent weekly time slots.
- Demonstrated reliability and responsiveness in all email, phone and in-person communication and administrative duties.
- Ability to meet deadlines related, but not exclusive to, lesson planning, feedback, and other pedagogical responsibilities.
- Fluency in Arabic, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, and/or Spanish is highly sought.
Starting date: Fall (September) 2026
Department: Education, School Programs
Salary: $55.17/hour for teaching; $22.06/hour for planning time and training. Hours are budgeted for each teaching assignment (limited).
Reports to: School Programs Managers
Position type: Part-time, Temporary
Union status: UAW Local 2110
FLSA status: Non-exempt
Schedule: Select hours Tuesday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with most sessions scheduled Wednesday through Friday during open hours.
Benefit Offerings
The Museum provides competitive compensation along with generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Individual benefit offerings may vary based on position type and union status.
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- 401(k) Savings Plan and Pension Plan
- Generous paid time off, including annual vacation leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) & Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for eligible pre-tax health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses
- Employee Assistant Program
- Free admission to various NYC museums and cultural institutions
- Early access to Museum exhibitions
- Invitations to staff-only programs, tours, and on-site engagement events
- Opportunities to participate in community initiatives and Museum programs
- 40% discount for staff in Museum shops
- 20% discount at Museum café
- All positions are based in Brooklyn, New York, with some eligible for a hybrid work schedule (three days on-site / two days remote)
Apply Today
We recognize that it’s unlikely that any candidate will meet 100% of the desired qualifications for a role. If much of this job description resonates with you, we strongly encourage you to apply today. We’re committed to welcoming candidates with a wide range of experiences and perspectives – especially those who see themselves contributing to our mission to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act.
If you have questions about our online application system, please contact us at job.applicationquestions@brooklynmuseum.org
Salary : $22 - $55