Emerging Arts Leader Intern, School & Educator Programs

Seattle Art Museum Emerging Arts Leader InternshipWinter Quarter 2025Applications Due: November 8, 2024Position Start: January 8, 2025 (Est.)Position End: March 15, 2025 (Est.)TITLE: Emerging Arts Leader, School & Educator ProgramsDEPARTMENT: Education & Public EngagementDEPARTMENT STAFF MENTOR: Manager for School & Educator ProgramsPROGRAM OVERVIEWSeattle Art Museum connects art to life. SAM strives for its employees, volunteers, and interns to reflect the community in which it exists. Emerging Arts Leader internships are intended to open career pathways for individuals who bring dynamic backgrounds and perspectives to their work in art, museums, or community engagement.While diversity can embody many characteristics, this internship program is intended to engage with historically under-represented groups in the museum field including, but not limited to, individuals of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander descent.EMERGING ARTS LEADER, SCHOOL & EDUCATOR PROGRAMSPartnering with SAM’s Education team, this intern will focus on developing tour stops and visual aids/touchable objects for SAM’s upcoming exhibitions of artwork by Suchitra Mattai and Ai Weiwei.Guided tours at SAM Downtown and Seattle Asian Art Museum currently integrate one object from a special exhibition to ensure that students visiting the museum are able to experience these exhibitions during the limited time they are on view. The intern will be responsible for selecting an object in the Suchitra Mattai exhibition and 1-3 objects in the Ai Weiwei exhibition to be integrated as a tour stop in the following guided tour types: Families Around the World, Artistic Elements/Choices, Art of Empathy, and Eyes on Asia.In addition to developing a tour stop with looking questions, key points, and engagement strategies, the intern will also create visual aids and source touchable objects to enhance each stop based on tour theme and relevant learning standards. The intern will also have the option to lead guided school tours to familiarize themselves with tour format and curriculum.LEARNING OBJECTIVESThis intern will learn to navigate a multi-department organization, form meaningful professional relationships, and apply their own perspectives and leadership experience to work at the museum. In addition, this intern will:

• Develop a clear understanding of SAM’s current strategies in developing educational programs and engaging a broad range of audiences within our galleries.
• Learn to collect, organize, and summarize information from multiple sources.
• Refine a writing style that clearly articulates program goals, learning outcomes, and impacts for visiting audiences.

FSLA STATUS: Temporary, Non-ExemptCOMPENSATION: $20.76 per hour, 15 hours per week, for 10 weeks.EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT:15 hours per week, for 10 weeks. Schedule is flexible within Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm office hours. Start and end dates may also be flexible depending on intern needs and academic schedule.Due to the hands-on nature of this internship, a majority of this position’s work will be on-site. Limited weekly hours for remote work may be available, if flexible scheduling is needed.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS * Research artwork and educational strategies to engage school tour audiences in Suchitra Mattai and Ai Weiwei exhibitions.

• Learn about key concepts and techniques related to learning in a museum gallery, such as Visual Thinking Strategies, multimodal communication, and relevant curriculum/learning standards.
• Develop 1 tour stop for Suchitra Mattai exhibition and 1-3 tour stops for Ai Weiwei exhibition, including visual aids and touchables for each stop.
• Develop and deliver a presentation related to your internship work or professional interests.
• Complete a job shadow with frontline volunteers during open hours.
• Complete a one-page reflection, blog post, or interview about your internship experience.
• Attend Enrichment Sessions, informational interviews, and check-ins as available.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED * Demonstrated interest or experience in the arts, education, or public arts programs. Competitive candidates will be able to articulate why this Emerging Arts Leader Internship supports their professional goals in museums or the wider arts industry.

• Familiarity with engaging multilingual learners and differentiating educational approaches for student needs is preferred. Candidates with in-classroom instructional experience are well-positioned to get the most out of this internship experience.
• Some familiarity with Visual Thinking Strategies or engaging audiences as a teacher, docent, or guide is preferred, but not required.
• Strong writing and communication skills, and ability to clearly articulate goals, progress, and outcomes to a professional audience.
• Clear understanding of and ability to discuss concepts related to racial equity, intersectionality, and social justice.
• Demonstrated proficiency in general computer use, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet.
• Ability to ask for help and accept supervision and evaluation of your work.
• Ability to work with others professionally and tactfully.
• Ability to adhere to museum policies and support management decisions in a positive, professional manner.

EDUCATION & REQUIRED EXPERIENCEApplicants are not required to have previous professional or museum experience. Competitive applicants will show a demonstrated commitment to the arts and leadership in community building.Emerging Arts Leader internships are open to applicants at any stage of their career journey, including graduate and post-graduate students. At minimum, a high school diploma or equivalent is required.WORKING CONDITIONSExposure: Work areas are primarily inside, in a climate-controlled environment with light background noise. Work is occasionally performed at other indoor and outdoor sites.PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES REQUIRED FOR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSStationary Work: Approximately 80% of time is spent stationary while working at a desk. Balance of time (approximately 20%) is spent moving around the work area. Occasional extended periods of standing may be required when assisting at Museum events.Communication: Clear and effective communication with volunteers, donors, members, the public, and co-workers is necessary.Moving: The ability to move up to twenty pounds on occasion is necessary for moving files, equipment, and supplies. Must be able to regularly position self to access files.Office Work: Ability to effectively and regularly operate a computer, keyboard, and other office productivity machinery, such as copy machines and printers, and ability to inspect, prepare, and use paperwork, files, equipment, and supplies is necessary.Centering equity, diversity, and inclusion as an organization, and as individuals, Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is committed to ensuring that all employees and volunteers enjoy a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. SAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, caste, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, political ideology, gender identity or expression, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status, use of Section 8 certificate, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other class protected by federal, state or local laws.Please contact the Human Resources Department at (206) 654-3188 or HR@seattleartmuseum.org for additional information or to request reasonable accommodations for the application or interview process.Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.APPLICATION PROCESS (APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 8 AT 5 PM)Applications are only accepted via the online form at .Application materials in PDF format may also be sent to internships@seattleartmuseum.org.Each application should include:

• Application Form (completed online)
• A Personal Statement of no more than 700 words detailing:

• How your personal background or academic/professional experiences inform your perspective on education and learning in museums, community, and the arts.
• How questions of equity and inclusion shape your personal and professional goals.
• What you hope to gain from this experience and how it might enhance your education and career plans.
• How you consider yourself as meeting the specific criteria set out in the job description for this internship.
• Resume, which describes experiences you believe are relevant to this internship and your professional goals. This may include professional experience, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, community service, and academic projects.
• At least one Letter of Recommendation, ideally from a teacher, supervisor, or mentor. References should be emailed directly to

, with the applicant name noted in the Subject line.For additional information or to request reasonable accommodations for the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (206) 654-3188 or at internships@seattleartmuseum.orgPowered by JazzHR

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