Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE)

Manager, Studio Programs

Bentonville, AR · Contract

Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 30 days ago

Project ManagementLeadershipCommunicationMentoringMicrosoft Office

About the role

This role oversees a growing portfolio of programs including class series, workshops, drop-in artmaking, and a Teaching Artist in Residence program, ensuring all offerings are high-quality, inclusive, and accessible to diverse audiences.
The Manager is responsible for advancing a multi-disciplinary studio ecosystem spanning ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, fibers, sculpture, and craft-based media.
This role requires a balance of visionary leadership and operational excellence, guiding program innovation while maintaining strong systems, schedules, and budgets.

Oversee the Teaching Artist in Residence program and support artists in developing high-quality, engaging programs and experiences.
Develop and implement long-range strategies for studio program growth, aligned with institutional priorities and the expansion of the L&E Hub Studios.
Manage program operations, including scheduling, staffing, budgets, materials, and timelines, ensuring efficient and high-quality delivery.
Design and lead select studio programs and workshops, modeling best practices in teaching and facilitation.
Evaluate program effectiveness using data and feedback, and implement improvements to increase impact, attendance, and revenue.
Develop clear, engaging written materials for studio activities, including instructions, curriculum, and public-facing content.
Support L&E Programs and Partnerships that include hands-on artmaking, including the Mobil Art Lab, Arkansas Children's Hospital partnership, and AWE ecosystem wide programs.
Collaborate cross-departmentally to integrate artmaking into exhibitions, programs, and museum-wide initiatives.
Build and maintain relationships with local and regional artists, organizations, and partners to expand program reach and relevance.
Support the development of accessible and inclusive teaching practices across L&E offerings.

Minimum of 3-5 years of experience developing and leading studio programs, preferably in a museum or cultural institution.
Deep knowledge of visual arts and hands-on experience across multiple media, with particular strength in ceramics and familiarity with a wide range of materials and processes.
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
Regularly, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served.
Strong teaching background, with the ability to lead studio-based classes for a range of ages and skill levels.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across departments and with external partners.

Practicing artist with formal training in studio art, art education, or a related field.
Demonstrated leadership and management experience, including supervising teams and managing teaching artists or educators.
Excellent organizational and project management skills, with experience managing complex schedules and budgets.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including content development for public audiences.
Knowledge of museum pedagogy, audience engagement strategies, and inclusive teaching practices.
Ability to remain flexible, solution-oriented, and composed in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and willingness to learn systems such as Asana, Momentous, and Tessitura.
Physical Demands and
Qualifications and Skills:

Stay current with trends in studio art practice, museum education, and audience engagement, incorporating new approaches into programming.

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature.
Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind.

This listing is sourced directly from Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE)'s careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.