Education Assistant

Education Assistant

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum seeks a full-time Education Assistant. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with diverse audiences to make meaningful connections with Isamu Noguchi’s art. They will be someone who wants to grow as both an administrator and art museum educator. They will be someone who values integrating inclusion and equity into all aspects of their work. They will be highly organized, and a confident communicator. They will truly care about community development and building relationships within and outside of the Museum. 

About The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum

Founded in 1985 by category-defying artist Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988), The Isamu Noguchi

Garden Museum (now known as The Noguchi Museum), was the first museum in the United States to be established, designed, and installed by a living artist to show their own work. Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Long Island City, Queens, the Museum itself is widely viewed as among the artist’s greatest achievements. Holding the world’s largest collection of his works, the Museum features open air and indoor galleries in a repurposed 1920s industrial building and a serene outdoor sculpture garden. Since its founding, it has served as an international hub for Noguchi research and appreciation. In addition to managing the artist’s archives and catalogue raisonné, the Museum exhibits a comprehensive selection of Noguchi’s material culture, from sculpture, models, and drawings to his personal possessions. Provocative installations drawn from the permanent collection, together with diverse special exhibitions and collaborations with contemporary practitioners across disciplines, offer a multifaceted view of Noguchi’s art and illuminate his enduring influence as an innovator. Through its rich collection, exhibitions, and programming, the Museum facilitates scholarship and learning for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

The Education Department supports visitors of all ages, identities, and abilities as they establish meaningful relationships with the art, life, and vision of Isamu Noguchi and others. Programs are inquiry-based; encourage openness, exploration and experimentation; and emphasize the creative potential of the individual. The Education Department prioritizes a co-creation model of programming where culture is dynamic, it belongs to everyone, and cultural choices are shared between the community and the Museum. Programs are facilitated in multiple languages, currently English, Japanese, and Spanish,  and designed to be welcoming and accessible to neighbors in Queens and beyond.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

·   Working with the Director of Education in the general administration and vision of on- and off-site education programs, including those for students and teachers, families, teens, adults, and visitors with special needs.

·   Coordinating all group visits to the Museum.

·   Scheduling educators for on and off-site programs. 

·   Registering and following up with participants for on-site and virtual programs.

·   Tracking group visit, program statistics, and evaluation data; and creating annual evaluative reports for use in grant proposals and other Museum-related work.

·   Teaching or assisting inquiry-based and art-making programs in the galleries, art studio, or virtual classroom as assigned or necessary.

·   Assisting weekday and weekend family programs. 

·   Conducting outreach at off-site fairs and festivals.

·   Contributing to the writing, design, production, and distribution of promotional and educational materials, including program brochures, curriculum guides and e-blasts.

·   Helping to maintain and update the Education Department website, program resources, and organize and maintain the supply room. 

Experience, Skills, and Qualities

·   Interest in the life and work of Isamu Noguchi. 

 ·   BFA or commensurate experience in art, education, museums, community engagement, or administration.

·   Desire to engage with the Museum’s diverse public; specifically youth audiences, teachers, artists, visitors with special needs, community groups, and families in Queens.

·   A commitment to a culturally conscious pedagogy; and passion for integrating diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in programs and working procedures. 

·   Strong interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills.

·   Customer service experience, excellent communication, and confident public speaking skills.

·   Ability to work independently while actively contributing to a team.

·   Detail-oriented with the ability to manage scheduling systems, to document visitor statistics and evaluations, and to analyze information for reports. 

·   Strong reflective practice and desire to work in a supportive environment with a collaborative team.

·   Comfort in exploring, playing, and learning from art materials. 

·   Some teaching experience is preferred.

·   Preferred language skills in addition to English: Spanish or Japanese.

The Education Assistant position is full-time and located in The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, Queens. Hours are 5 days a week, 9 am–5 pm, Tuesday– Saturday. Currently, the Museum is operating on a flexible work schedule between remote and in-person at the Museum as we continue to assess the risk and impact of COVID-19. Work for this position will primarily be in-person as we continue to add programs to the calendar. The health and safety of our community is our first priority. As such, and in accordance with New York City requirements, The Noguchi Museum requires all staff members to be fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations for medical, religious, or other reasons will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

Hours outside of the scheduled times are an occasional requirement of the position. Work is often performed in an office environment; prolonged periods of sitting, use of computers and standard office equipment required to accomplish work objectives. Work is also performed in the art studio and outdoor events where the employee will be required to lift (up to 25 lbs.), bend, stoop, walk, speak and stand for up to 7 hours in a day. Salary is $50,000 per year and benefits include a generous health insurance program, a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match, and paid time off, as well as other benefits.

The Noguchi Museum is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, disability or any other criterion specified by federal, state or local laws, in the administration of its employment policy. The Museum considers the diversity of its workforce to be vital to our organization’s success in meeting its mission. We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply.