Naples Art Hiring for Director of Education at Naples, FL Full Time

Position Description

Naples Art is currently accepting applications for a Director of Education to lead the organization’s education initiatives aimed at engaging new and existing audiences in challenging, interesting mission-based programming. This candidate will evaluate current education initiatives and develop and implement new strategies to ensure that Naples Art’s programs are aligned with current pedagogy, educational theory, and best practices in the visual arts field. The ideal candidate will bring a proactive attitude to the organization, work well in a team setting, and thrive in a fast- paced, collaborative, and fluid work environment. The Director will plan and coordinate our educational programs, in-house activities, school outreach, in-person and on-line classes, and special programs for adults, students, teachers, and families.

The Director of Education leads department efforts to make Naples Art the region’s recognized leader and partner in visual arts education. To support this effort, s/he advocates for and supports the creation of programming that invites and includes the entire community. S/he develops and maintains relationships with other arts, community, and education organizations and supervises the Manager of Education. This position reports to the Executive Director and Chief Curator.

Duties and responsibilities

General

– Lead the design, development, and execution of programs that integrate Naples Art’s education offerings in a unified vision, ensuring its alignment with broader organizational priorities.

– Collaborate with the Executive Director and Chief Curator on assessing and redesigning of methods and content.

– Develop strategic partnerships with schools, neighborhood organizations, cultural organizations, and experts in the field.

– Ensure that the education programs are responsive and integral to the existing Collier County social and educational landscape.

– Act as ambassador for Naples Art within our neighborhood and community, with a particular emphasis on schools, children, and youth-serving organizations

– Develop metrics for success and a strategy for continuous evaluation that informs and supports the growth of programs.

Youth Art Education

– Develop and activate innovative, immersive teaching programs that promote integration between seeing and making, with the goals of refining and elevating the quality of art education classes.

– Broaden Naples Art’s art educational offerings by inviting youth art instructors to teach compelling and varied subjects and techniques within an art historical context.

– Ensure Naples Art’s signature programs remain dynamic and accessible to all youth.

Studio Lifelong Learning/Adult Art Education

– Refine and elevate the quality of art education classes for adults through improved quality of subjects and techniques.

– Broaden art educational offerings for lifelong learning by attracting a dynamic faculty of returning, new, and visiting art instructors.

– Redesign Naples Art’s adult classes to appeal to more prospective and current students.

Outreach Education

– Forge new connections with special-need constituencies, broadening Naples Art’s reach and expanding the accessibility of art education to underserved populations.

– Evaluate and refine our current art educational experiences to align learning opportunities with the needs of those whom Naples Art serves (i.e., at-risk youth attending Title 1 schools).

– Develop new programs that have an impact on reaching audiences, breaking geographic barriers, promoting inclusion for the medically frail or financially insecure.

Remote/Online Class Offerings

– Broaden the selection of classes.

– Explore opportunities to broaden Naples Art’s relationship with the Public School system to provide online streamed content in support of the art curriculum.

Exhibition Support

– Create supplemental educational material (gallery guides, family activity packets, book lists, etc.) as needed for changing exhibitions.

– Collaborate with Executive Director and Chief Curator in researching and writing didactic text labels and other interpretive materials for exhibitions.

– Assist with developing grants and sponsorship for educational programs and projects.

– Provide reports and statistics as requested.

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

– Master’s degree in Art History, Art Education, Museum Studies or Fine/Studio Arts along with sound knowledge of art history is required.

– Diplomatic and strong interpersonal and communication skills.

– Ability to work well and collaborate effectively with a wide range of audiences including staff, volunteers, educators, funders, sponsors, members, general public, and other constituencies.

– Demonstrated commitment to values of diversity, inclusion, and learner-centered strategies.

– Experience with supervising staff and volunteers, as well as with program and budget development and project management.

About Naples Art

Naples Art is a contemporary arts organization that has been enriching people’s creative nature for more than 65 years as a dynamic visual arts educational center with a local and international footprint. We reach more than 80,000 people a year.

We foster creativity through making, learning about, seeing, and discussing art. We believe art can change lives and improve entire communities. By providing a platform for diverse voices, we work to leverage our cultural influence to give rise to inclusive contemporary ideas, dialogue, and art expressions that reflect our time and contribute to advancing a collective community. We believe that diversity encompasses, but is not limited to religion, age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic circumstances, physical and mental abilities, characteristics, and philosophy.

Our guiding principles are to serve as a vibrant cultural destination for art education, art exposure and experimentation and a hub where people and ideas converge. Naples Art is a place of introspection and innovation, discovery, and learning.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 – $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Education:

Work Location: One location