Teaching Artist

Job Title: Teaching Artist

Department: Education and Public Engagement (EPE)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Employment Status: Part-Time, On-call

Union Position: Yes

Hourly Rate: $51.16

Reports to: Assistant Director of Education

Start Date: September 2026

POSITION OVERVIEW

The New Museum of Contemporary Art is seeking part-time Teaching Artists to work closely with the Assistant Director of Education and the Museum’s Education and Public Engagement staff to support the development and implementation of educational programs. These include school and community partnerships, exhibition tours for adults, school visits, and family programs, with a particular emphasis on supporting the Museum’s teen programming, including the NewMu Teen Fellowship and Bowery Art Space. 

Teaching Artists research, design, and facilitate tours and hands-on programs at the Museum, partner sites, and through virtual platforms. Teaching Artists working on teen programming will help create engaging opportunities for high school students, facilitating their exploration of contemporary art, experimentation with creative practices, and the process of connecting their own ideas and experiences to the artworks/exhibitions on view. 

Partnership programs are long-term collaborations between the Museum and local New York City public schools and non-profit organizations. These partnerships involve curriculum development and multi-visit programs that take place both at the Museum and in community or classroom settings.

The Museum’s inquiry- and discussion-based tour program engages school, youth, and adult audiences through close looking, dialogue and critical thinking, while offering context and insight into New Museum exhibitions. 

Family programs include drop-in artmaking throughout the galleries and public spaces of the Museum. Teen drop-in programs invite high school students to experiment with artmaking and explore artworks through conversation.

This is a part-time, on-call position that may include occasional weekends. This position is a union-represented position subject to the terms of the New Museum’s agreement with Local 2110, UAW, and because the position is less than 20 hours per week, it is not eligible for the New Museum’s employee benefits programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and facilitate inquiry and activity-based programs, including interactive tours and classroom visits (online and in-person) related to New Museum exhibitions, designed for youth and adult audiences.
• Support the development and implementation of the NewMu Teen Fellowship program and teen drop-in program, Bowery Art Space, including facilitation of hands-on workshops, discussions, assistance with a large-scale annual youth summit, and other learning experiences for high school students.
• Collaborate with teachers and/or staff from school and community partner sites to develop lesson plans that integrate contemporary art into school curricula or partner sites’ interests and programming. 
• Work and communicate effectively with the New Museum’s Education and Public Engagement staff and other Teaching Artists.
• Attend training sessions and planning meetings.
• Participate in seasonal New Museum professional development workshops for teachers and educators, as needed.
• Write lesson plans and teacher resources for publication, as needed. 
• Assist with the distribution and tracking of program evaluation initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum five years of teaching experience, with a minimum of three years of experience teaching contemporary art.
• BA or BFA in Fine Art, Art History, Art Education, or related field required; MA, MFA, or significant equivalent experience is preferred.
• Exemplary oral and written communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge of and engagement with contemporary art and relevant learning theories, acquired through study and practice.
• Demonstrated commitment to and passion for collaborating with others to co-create learning opportunities that advance the New Museum’s mission, values, and methods.
• Demonstrated success in generating and maintaining mutually respectful communication and attentive engagement with groups of diverse ages, backgrounds, experiences, and identities.
• Ability to enthusiastically engage teens in contemporary art through accessible, creative, and participatory approaches.

In addition to the above qualifications, we seek Teaching Artists with one or more of the following qualifications. Please indicate which audiences you have experience within your cover letter: 

• Language skills, especially in Spanish or Mandarin
• Experience working and collaborating with public school teachers
• Experience working with specific audiences: 
  • Adults seeking in-depth exhibition tours
  • Children and intergenerational family groups
  • People with disabilities
  • Teenagers
  • System-impacted adults 
• Knowledge of New York Department of Education’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-S) framework is a plus.

We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role. 

About the New Museum 

Founded in 1977, the New Museum is a leading destination for new art and new ideas. It is Manhattan's only dedicated contemporary art museum and is respected internationally for the adventurousness and global scope of its curatorial program. Since opening on Bowery in 2007, over 3.8 million have visited the Museum or attended programs and events, and the Museum has presented 90+ exhibitions with 500 artists from 60 countries around the globe, and 650+ public programs ranging from live performances, conferences, residencies, screening, afterschool programs, and family days. The New Museum has a current operating budget of $10.6 million and approximately 120 full-and part-time employees. For more information about the New Museum and its programs, please visit www.newmuseum.org. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

The New Museum of Contemporary Art believes that all persons are entitled to Equal Employment Opportunity and we do not discriminate against our staff members or applicants for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, sex, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran or citizenship status provided they are qualified and meet the requirements for the job. The New Museum provides reasonable accommodation to candidates with disabilities. As per New York State Guidelines, all candidates hired must be vaccinated with the COVID vaccine.