{"id":14491,"date":"2013-10-15T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2013-10-15T13:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/opportunities\/?p=14491"},"modified":"2013-10-15T09:00:49","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T13:00:49","slug":"job-visitor-assistant-queens-museum-of-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/opportunities\/2013\/10\/15\/job-visitor-assistant-queens-museum-of-art\/","title":{"rendered":"[JOB] Visitor Assistant, Queens Museum of Art"},"content":{"rendered":"
Visitor Assistant<\/b>
\nQueens Museum of Art
\n(Queens NY)<\/p>\n

About the Queens Museum
\nThe Queens Museum is dedicated to presenting the highest quality visual arts and educational programming for people in the New York metropolitan area, and particularly for the residents of Queens, a uniquely diverse ethnic, cultural and international community. The Museum fulfills its mission by designing and providing art exhibitions and educational experiences that promote the appreciation and enjoyment of art, support the creative efforts of artists, and enhance the quality of life through interpreting, collecting, and exhibiting art, architecture, and design.In November 2013, the Queens Museum will complete an expansion that will double its size to a grand total of 105,000 square feet. The expansion will provide an additional 50,000 square feet of space, including a suite of new galleries, artist studios, flexible public and special event spaces, education classrooms, a caf\u00e9, back-of-house facilities, and visitor amenities. This light-filled new space, designed by world-renowned Grimshaw Architects, exemplifies the museum\u2019s commitment to openness, inclusion, community partnership and the diverse communities we serve.<\/p>\n

About the Position: Visitor Assistants
\nThe visitor experience program is part of an initiative to enhance the personal experiences and connections visitors have with the Queens Museum\u2019s wide array of exhibitions, projects and programs. Visitor Assistants serve as advocates for the visitor while promoting the safety of the museum; communicating consistently with visitors to ensure a positive museum experience. Visitor Assistants will be stationed and rotated throughout the Queens Museum\u2019s galleries and project spaces and are responsible for interacting with the general public and safeguarding our exhibitions.<\/p>\n

These flexible part-time positions are excellent preparation and introductions to careers in arts and culture. Visitor Assistants will participate in an ongoing rigorous training and professional development program led by accomplished museum, cultural and educational professionals as part of a team of talented arts and museum educators.<\/p>\n

Primary Responsibilities:<\/p>\n

Education and interpretation
\nVisitor Assistants are responsible for projecting an attitude of openness and access to all visitors in the galleries. While stationed in the galleries, Visitor Assistants will use a variety of strategies (e.g. verbal, touch objects, prompts, multi-sensory, hunt cards , games, mobile devices) to inquire about visitor needs, interests and questions and use specialized knowledge about the museum and our exhibitions to deepen and enhance visitor connection, engagement and understanding of the museum\u2019s exhibitions and projects. Specifically, these responsibilities include but are not limited to:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Actively participating in a required paid ongoing Visitor Assistant professional development program covering exhibition content, visitor engagement strategies, customer service and security.
\n\u2022 Entering into natural conversations with visitors regarding exhibitions, encouraging and inviting authentic visitor feedback and response to exhibitions.
\n\u2022 Answering questions and providing contextual information about the exhibits and the Queens Museum.
\n\u2022 Using discretion, approaching\/engaging visitors as appropriate, respecting boundaries and personal space, thoughtfully monitoring body language and facial expression, always communicating in a respectful and professional manner.
\n\u2022 Directing visitors to and explaining interpretative materials as appropriate to\u00a0\u00a0visitor interest (e.g. wall text, labels, brochures, video, audio media).
\n\u2022 Directing visitors to other exhibitions throughout the museum as relevant to visitor interests (promoting connections and linkages).
\n\u2022 Directing visitors to relevant educational resources (e.g. books in our gift shop, print brochures, reading rooms, online resources on tablet computers, local library branches and community organizations).
\n\u2022 Directing visitors and encouraging participation in self-guided activity stations and\/or interactive exhibitions and projects throughout the museum.
\n\u2022 Ensure that guests of varying needs and abilities all have proper access to exhibitions and the museum as a whole.
\n\u2022 Periodically collaborating with resident artists and promoting visitor participation on short-term artist projects in the galleries.
\n\u2022 Dreaming up and proposing new, experimental and nontraditional strategies to promote visitor engagement in the museum.
\n\u2022 Periodically collecting data and participating in action research on visitor engagement to support the museum\u2019s general research and audience analysis efforts (e.g. counting, periodic surveys, behavioral observation).<\/p>\n

Gallery safety and security
\nThe Queens Museum, like many other museums, is responsible for preserving art and historical objects for future generations and simultaneously making those objects as accessible as possible to the public to learn from and interact with. Carefully balancing those priorities, Visitor Assistants will work closely with the Visitor Experience Manager and our security staff to:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Be knowledgeable of and ensure that visitors comply with museum policies regarding exhibitions and safety in the galleries (e.g. photography, materials, touching, proximity to fragile objects).
\n\u2022 Communicate those policies in a direct, friendly and respectful manner (e.g. using positive language, providing explanations, redirecting visitors etc.).
\n\u2022 Monitor the flow of traffic to provide a smooth flow of visitation.
\n\u2022 Monitor visitors to ensure that all guests who enter the galleries have checked in at our admissions desks.
\n\u2022 Serve as \u201ceyes and ears\u201d on the gallery floors, monitoring and proactively communicating with security staff regarding potential safety issues or hazards.
\n\u2022 Monitors the gallery space and reports on any incidents or issues.<\/p>\n

Customer service
\n\u2022 Respond to general visitor inquiries about the museum, (e.g. location of amenities gift shop, caf\u00e9, visiting hours, directions).
\n\u2022 Direct traffic in the museum, help visitors find and locate exhibitions that may not be readily obvious.
\n\u2022 Look to pro-actively help\/assist visitors as necessary.
\n\u2022 Inform visitors about public events and programs happening at the museum and offsite community programs and events as appropriate\/relevant;
\n\u2022 Assist in maintaining the inventory of museum brochures and literature throughout the galleries.
\n\u2022 Work with visitor experience manager and maintenance staff to monitor cleanliness and presentation of gallery spaces throughout the museum.
\n\u2022 Visitor assistants will also staff the front desk: greeting and orienting visitors to the museum, operating our ticketing system and ensuring a smooth and positive initial museum experience.<\/p>\n

Perform other duties as directed by management.<\/p>\n

Competencies
\nWe seek reliable, empathetic, outgoing, creative and intellectually curious individuals to serve as Visitor Assistants in our galleries. Successful visitor assistants will have:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Friendly and outgoing, able to conduct oneself in a polite and professional manner in a variety of situations.
\n\u2022 Strong interpersonal and communication skills
\n\u2022 Ability to assert oneself when needed in order to enforce policies and protect artwork.
\n\u2022 Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
\n\u2022 Ability to use good judgment and to respond in handling crowds and waiting lines; remain calm and present a professional demeanor.
\n\u2022 Willingness to learn about and open-mindedness about art and historical exhibitions at the museum.<\/p>\n

Desired qualifications\/requirements:<\/p>\n

\u2022 High school diploma required, some college a strong plus
\n\u2022 Demonstrated knowledge, interest and experience with arts, cultural, historical exhibitions\/organizations a strong plus
\n\u2022 Experience in one or more of the following areas a strong plus:
\no education\/teaching;
\no hospitality;
\no security;
\no retail;
\no customer service;
\n\u2022 Second language skills a major plus (particularly Spanish, Mandarin, Korean speakers).
\n\u2022 Existing familiarity with the Queens Museum is a strong plus. Former or current participants in\/from Queens Museum public, community or education programs are strongly encouraged to apply.<\/p>\n

Please note that this work will require standing for long periods of time, adherence to dress code and museum policies.\u00a0\u00a0Visitor Services Assistants will work a set schedule during weekdays, weekends and potentially some holiday hours.<\/p>\n

Compensation:
\n\u2022 $10\/hr, 15-20 hours a week with the possibility of additional special event shifts based on seniority and performance<\/p>\n

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and a current resume to\u2019;<\/p>\n

ledmondson@queensmuseum.org<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0jyoon@queensmuseum.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Resumes will be accepted for this position on an ongoing basis.\u00a0\u00a0Selected candidates will be contacted as positions become available.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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