Head of Interpretation at the Milwaukee Art Museum
Job Title: Head of Interpretation
Job Status: Full-time
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Salary: $60,000 – $75,000
General Purpose:
Lead the strategy, development, implementation, and evaluation of interpretive content, on-site and online, for the Museum’s exhibitions and permanent collections. In collaboration with learning & engagement, curatorial, communications, design, IT staff, and community partners, develop engaging and inclusive museum interpretation across text, audio, and digital formats. Develop an interpretive framework that is both art-centered, recognizing unique opportunities presented by distinct exhibitions and collection areas, and audience-centered, with community engagement at its core.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Build cross-departmental interpretation frameworks and strategies that facilitate visitor relationships with works of art, empowering them to guide themselves within gallery and digital spaces in their own way.
- Ensure interpretive content supports the Museum’s mission and values, centering DEAI practices and a culture of belonging under the strategic direction pillars of Art Relevant to Our Community and Expansive Hospitality.
- Play a leading role on the Museum’s Knowledge Management Community of Practice team to activate curatorial, educational, archival, and community-generated content through text, audio, and digital interpretation formats.
- Collaborate across the Curatorial Department and Department of Learning & Engagement to develop an interpretive framework that is both art-centered, recognizing unique opportunities presented by distinct areas of the Museum’s collection, and audience-centered, with community engagement at its core.
- Work with the Curator of Community Dialogue to build bidirectional relationships with community advisory groups, residencies, and contracted storytellers, where participants all learn and benefit from each other’s unique perspectives and expertise.
- Work iteratively, prototyping different methods for collecting stories, activating the Museum’s archives, and sharing community narratives and voices, continually refining and assessing impact.
- Develop replicable practices for creating expansive and community-centered narratives and sharing across multiple platforms so the collection can be explored in contemporary contexts with more balanced interpretations.
- Work cross-departmentally to implement an inclusive and accessible style of institutional language.
- Work with Museum staff, outside consultants, evaluators, and community partners to assess effectiveness and impact of interpretive strategies. Develop reports and presentations to share findings and apply learnings to future activities.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously, including objectives, deliverables, timelines, budgets, contracts, documentation, etc.
- Stay current and actively engage with innovative developments in the larger field of museum interpretation and education, maintaining a broad working knowledge of diverse content areas, interpretive approaches, and formats. Actively contribute to professional affiliations such as the Association for Art Museum Interpretation, the National Art Education Association, and the American Alliance of Museums.
- Manage, implement, and/or assist with special projects as assigned.
Requirements
Education/Experience Requirements: Master’s degree in art history, art education, museum studies or related field. Minimum five years of experience in museum interpretation and/or museum education. Strong working knowledge of art history, object/inquiry-based learning, visitor engagement theory, practice, and evaluation. Excellent communication and storytelling skills, including ability to write about art in an accessible, engaging way for multiple platforms and diverse audiences. Ability to work effectively with interdisciplinary teams and community partners, with strong project management, collaboration, and interpersonal communication skills. IBM-compatible computer skills, including MSOffice software and Zoom. Bilingual/Multilingual in Spanish and/or other languages a plus.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to:
- Remain in a stationary position for up to six hours per day
- Communicate, discuss, and exchange information
- Operate a computer and other office productivity machinery
- Observe, detect, distinguish, and assess details in visual art
- Move about the museum and campus offices
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
DEAI Statement:
The Milwaukee Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer. The Museum recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
We are committed to recruiting, developing, compensating, and retaining professional staff that reflect our community. We aspire to be a diverse workplace where talented people want to come, stay, and do their best work.
We stand committed to the work ahead, informed by our community, which we will support with our best thinking, our deepest empathy, and the courage to embody the convictions shared in our Strategic Direction.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all qualifications, responsibilities, duties and skills required.
Milwaukee Art Museum is an EOE/M/W/Vets/Disability Employer.