Youth and Family Programs and Events Assistant

Title: Youth and Family Programs and Events Assistant

State Role Title: 

Hiring Range: $17.00 an hour

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Location: MAIN MUSEUM

Agency Website: https://www.vmfa.museum/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

About Virginia Museum of Fine Arts:

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. VMFA’s growing encyclopedic collection houses more than 50,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years of world history.

Our holdings include the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, the finest collection of Art Nouveau outside of Paris and one of the nation’s finest collections of American art. VMFA is also home to important collections of Chinese art, English silver, French Impressionism, Postimpressionism, British sporting art, and modern and contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan, and African art.

Recently named the 11th-best art museum in the United States by The Washington Post, VMFA is the only US art museum open 365 days a year with free general admission.

VMFA is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all. 

About the Education Department:

Through art and shared experiences, we invite an exchange of diverse perspectives to uncover layers of meaning and in turn, support discovery, learning, and deeper connections.

1. Quality

We thoughtfully create experiences that consider and respond to the different motivations and needs of audiences while proactively contributing to field leadership.

2. Collaboration

We value working together, collaborating, sharing and listening to multiple perspectives, within the museum and externally, in order to create a supportive learning environment for all.

3. Community-focused

We recognize our communities as partners in furthering our shared understanding of art. Through facilitating diverse and wide-ranging programs and interpretation, we strive to meet communities where they are— actively seeking, honoring and empowering their unique voices and perspectives— to provide welcoming, accessible, and engaging experiences.

The Education Programs Department brings the museum's collections and special exhibitions to life for audiences of all ages, developing and delivering educational programs, workshops, tours, and lectures across four areas: Adult Programs, Youth &Family Programs and Events, Performing Arts, and Teen Programs.

Within this department, the Youth & Family Programs & Events team creates welcoming, hands-on experiences that invite children, families, and community members to explore and connect with art together. Through large-scale Family Days, off-site community outreach, and collaborative programming, the team makes the museum's collections accessible and engaging for young audiences.

General Information:

We are currently seeking applications for organized, versatile, and creative individuals with excellent communication skills to join our Education Department as a Youth & Family Programs & Events Assistant.  

The Youth and Family Programs & Events Assistant supports planning, organization, preparation, set up and clean-up, and production of VMFA’s large-scale Family Day Events and Community Outreach programs.

This position includes working all Family Day events and off-site Community Outreach events and occasionally helps with other Educational Programs/Events.

This position reports to the Education Youth & Family Programs & Events Coordinator.  It is non-exempt position without benefits, scheduled to work up to approximately 27 hours per week on average and up to 1,450 hours annually (May 1 – April 30).

The Youth & Family Programs & Events Assistant supports the planning, organization, preparation, set-up, clean-up, and production of VMFA's large-scale Family Day events and Community Outreach programs. This position is required to work all Family Day events and select Outreach programs and occasionally assists with other Educational Programs and Events.

The Assistant helps develop hands-on art activities and projects for children ages 3–12 that encourage young audiences to explore and appreciate the museum's permanent collections and special exhibitions. This role communicates and works cross-departmentally, as well as with external community partners, sponsors, and contractors, to assist with planning events, submitting requests, and developing a firm schedule ahead of each event date. The Assistant attends all scheduled orientations, meetings, and rehearsals in preparation for related programs and events.

The Assistant is responsible for the following:

• Researching background information, event ideas, and potential partners/participants for Family Day events and event proposal build-out
• Creating event and planning resources
• Developing art activities and collaborative/community projects for Family Day and community outreach events
• Managing event art supplies and materials, including sourcing, purchasing, inventory, and organization of supply storage
• Prepping event supplies and materials and coordinating a schedule for volunteers and Event Technicians to assist with supply/material prep
• Working with the Coordinator to develop additional documents and resources for programs and events
• Assisting with scheduling, and attending, departmental planning meetings, event orientations, and Event Technician meetings
• Communicating with designated performers, artists, and community partners connected to Family Day events and related programs
• Responding to inquiries (email or phone) regarding programs, events, or other pertinent Family Events questions

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Classroom teaching experience preferred at any level, pre-K–12th grade
• Experience teaching and/or leading classes or students in a studio, classroom, or art education setting
• Experience developing and implementing programs and events — including teaching in a classroom setting and/or administering studio art or other arts education programs for youth and families in a museum or educational setting
• Highly organized, with strong computer skills
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated, and a creative thinker
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Teaching license preferred
• Driver's license required

Additional Considerations:

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions for off-site community outreach events
• Occasional evening or weekend hours required around scheduled Family Day events and peak event season
• Comfort working around large groups and crowds during events
• Position requires lifting and carrying large and bulky items, across campus and throughout the museum with long periods of walking and standing
• Assistant will be required to learn museum gallery policies and studio safety procedures
• Consistent with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s skills-based employment model, VMFA recognizes multiple pathways to demonstrate competency for this role. Equivalent combinations of educational attainment, applicable training, relevant work experience, and job-related credentials may be considered to meet the requirements of the position.

Special Instructions:

Selected candidates must pass a criminal history background check.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

All applicants must submit an online application. This position will close at 11:55 pm on the designated closing date listed at the top of this posting on Jobs.Virginia.gov.

VMFA is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer. Diverse and inclusive hiring practices are at the heart of what we do at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Contact Information

Name: HR Services

Phone: For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account. We do not provide application status updates via phone.

Email: [email protected] for recruitment related questions.

 Emailed applications, resumes, or cover letters will not be accepted. For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account. 

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.