Director of Gallery Learning
Director of Gallery Learning (Regular, Full Time)
Education & Public Programs
The Director of Gallery Learning is responsible for establishing and maintaining best practices in gallery teaching with an emphasis on training and evaluating volunteers who provide school and public tours. The Director is also responsible for disseminating the institution’s gallery learning philosophy throughout the Education & Public Programs department. Working with colleagues across the department and within the field of museum education, the Director researches, facilitates, and shares new information and best practices for visitor engagement to include virtual initiatives. As the department’s lead in gallery learning, the Director is responsible for developing and testing new in-person and virtual formats for gallery talks, courses, and programs that engage dynamic audiences in in-depth, meaningful experiences around the museum, our ancillary sites and featured works of art. This may involve implementing programs directly and training education department staff and volunteers to carry engagement models forward. The incoming Director of Gallery Learning should ultimately lead through a deep commitment to diversity, accessibility, equity, and inclusion.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Oversees docent program including researching, developing, and implementing training for school and public tour docents
● Coordinates Education staff and outside experts as needed to integrate into training programs
● Develops methodologies for evaluating school and public tours including evaluation instruments and oversees procedures to facilitate these processes
● Evaluates docent performance through regular observations and meetings
● Attends all Docent Executive Committee and General Board Meetings and acts as a liaison between the Docent Council and the Education & Public Programs department
● Maintains clear and effective communication to deliver messages and resources to the docents
● Manages content on the Docent Council website, in the Docent Council resource files, and advises on the most effective strategy for utilizing communication tools and the online scheduling platforms for docents and schools
● Researches industry standards and develops strategies to maintain inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in the docent program through the refinement of the docent policies and procedures
● Researches trends and best practices in the field with regard to gallery learning strategies
● Develops strategies for innovative gallery tours, talks, courses, and programs that engage the Museum’s diverse audiences
● Proposes new offerings, both digital and face-to-face, that reflect current priorities within the Museum’s public programs
● Develops tools to evaluate the success of gallery learning techniques
● Provides an annual training workshop to the department full-time and part-time staff to disseminate best practices in the field
● Supervises associated program staff including the Docent Council Coordinator and part-time staff involved in the docent program
● Develops and monitors budgets, hires participants, and approves payments
● Monitors budgets and keep detailed records for each program area and project
● Oversees Education & Public Program Department initiatives, including hiring Teaching Artists, Gallery Educators, artists, and speakers
● Oversees the review of written materials for each exhibition including labels and didactics
● Writes and/or reviews grants and grant reports for related program support
● Other duties and special projects, as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
● Bachelor’s degree in Art History, History, or a related field (Master’s degree in Museum Education, Museum Studies or Art History is preferred)
● 5-8 years in a related position with increasing responsibility including management of strategic planning, budget, and supervision of staff
● Familiarity with current trends, issues, and best practices in the field of museum education, including experience with curriculum writing, design and implementation
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills
● Ability to conduct independent research in areas relevant to LACMA’s collection
● Strong interpersonal and leadership skills for building effective working relationships at all levels within the Museum, and the ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment
● A desire to make LACMA and its programs responsive to the needs of a diverse range of audiences
● Flexibility, passion, creativity, and adaptability to handle various needs in a dynamic and changing environment
● Thorough knowledge of the most current trends in gallery learning practices.
To apply for this position, please follow this link.
