Art Museum Education Fellowship

About the role

The Art Museum at Washington and Lee University is offering a nine‑month Museum Education Fellowship designed for a museum professional seeking to build expertise in gallery education, faculty collaboration, and object‑based teaching. The Fellow will develop practical skills in four areas of museum education: visual thinking strategies, object‑based learning, interpretation, and audience engagement, while leading university class sessions across a wide range of collection areas. The Fellow will work closely with engagement staff and curators and will participate fully in the intellectual life of the campus community. This is a nine‑month fellowship, with the possibility of extension. The role is an in‑person position that requires a regular on‑campus presence, including evenings and weekends as needed. The Art Museum at W&L advances learning through direct engagement with the collections and facilitates an interdisciplinary appreciation of art, history, and culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead university class sessions across a wide range of collection areas.
• Develop practical skills in visual thinking strategies, object‑based learning, interpretation, and audience engagement.
• Work closely with engagement staff and curators.
• Participate fully in the intellectual life of the campus community.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in art history, studio art, museum education, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of one year of hands‑on experience leading tours and educational programs in museums.
• Relevant professional experience includes leading sessions or teaching college students in library settings, special collections, archives, or galleries.
• Experience or demonstrated coursework handling original works of art or material culture objects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of art history and visual literacy, with the ability to interpret and teach from original works of art.
• Interest in or exposure to American portraiture, ceramics and material culture, or works on paper is a plus.
• Ability to make interdisciplinary connections and foster engagement with a variety of collections.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, working both independently and under mentorship.
• Ability to work during evening and weekend hours, as needed.
• Ability to lift, carry, and safely handle museum objects; comfort kneeling, standing, and working in gallery environments for extended periods.

Skills

• Communication, collaboration, and facilitation.
• Managing multiple priorities and working independently or under mentorship.
• Interdisciplinary connection‑building and audience engagement.
• Handling and caring for original works of art.

Pay

Compensation: $62,000 – $71,000.

Schedule

Full‑time (FT) position; regular on‑campus presence required, including evenings and weekends as needed.