Museum Teacher

Position Summary

Museum Teachers have an essential role in connecting visitors to the Gardner Museum, its Collection, and its changing special exhibitions. They encourage inquiry, close looking, slowing down, making personal connections, and bringing multiple perspectives into interpretation of the Museum and its artworks.

Essential Functions And Primary Responsibilities

• Leading interactive tours for all audiences (including adult, university, and K-12).
• Completing a 10-month course encompassing teaching practice and Museum content areas.
• Frequently observing tours, co-leading or leading tours, and spending time independently researching the Museum collection.
• Completing ongoing training, including attending monthly meetings, special exhibition training sessions, and occasional HR-required trainings.
• Leading a minimum of 3 tours per month.
• Tours take place on weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Some evening and weekend tours may be available.
• Expecting a two-year commitment at minimum: Museum Teachers who begin training in fall 2026 will be expected to actively lead tours through at least August 2028.

Requirements

• Active, empathetic listener who is curious about others, themselves, and the world around them.
• English fluency is a requirement. Linguistic and cultural competency is essential for reaching the broadest range of visitors possible.
• Excellent communication skills, including but not limited to email and digital communication.
• Enjoys working as part of a team, sharing knowledge and multiple perspectives.
• Lifelong learner committed to advancing the ISGM’s strategic initiatives.
• Ability to problem solve and think flexibly in the moment to troubleshoot minor problems.
• Reliable and prompt.
• Able to reliably stand, climb stairs, and navigate a variety of gallery spaces.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Satisfactory background check.

Desirable

• Museum and/or non-profit experience.
• Fluency in Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Arabic, and/or ASL.
• Prior experience in customer service, or other public-facing positions.
• Some college-level work in education, art education, and/or art history.
• Familiarity with the Gardner Museum.