Are you an emerging professional interested in pursuing a role in museum education? The Museum Education Fellowship Program is an immersive, 10-month training program especially for you. You’ll come away with extensive teaching and programming experience for a wide variety of audiences.
Program alumni have gone on to pursue careers at such cultural institutions as the Denver Art Museum, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Museum of the American Indian, New Museum, and Queens Museum of Art, as well as the New York City Department of Education and the School District of Philadelphia.
What you’ll be doing
Participate in a rigorous six-week museum education training program, including hands-on workshops and reading discussions
Complete the Teaching Research Project, conducting qualitative research throughout the year to explore museum education theory and practice
Gain substantial on-the-ground teaching experience with audiences of all ages and abilities
Design and facilitate K–12 museum tours
Work in programs that address the needs of school, teen, family, and public audiences
Receive ongoing professional development from the Museum’s experienced education and curatorial staff
Complete a professional teaching portfolio
Compensation and eligibility
Get paid $27 per hour, or $39,690 across 10 months (subject to payroll taxes), plus benefits.
This program is open to individuals who have recently completed undergraduate or graduate studies or those who have commensurate experience, preferable in fine arts, art history, cultural studies, education, or other humanities. Candidates from other academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.
Schedule
The fellowship typically starts on the Tuesday after Labor Day and ends the third week of June. All participants must commit to the full schedule:
During training: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 10 am–6 pm
After training: hours shift to 9:30 am–5:30 pm
Workdays and hours may also shift depending on fellowship placement.
How to apply
Applications for 2024–25 are now closed. Check back in fall 2024 for information on the next program year.
Frequently asked questions
My professor wants to send their letter of recommendation confidentially. To whom should they address their letter?
Letters of recommendation should be submitted with the rest of your application; otherwise, your application will appear incomplete, and letters may get lost in the shuffle. If absolutely required, recommenders may email their letters in PDF format to bkm.fellowship@brooklynmuseum.org.
I sent a letter of recommendation on behalf of my student/employee/etc. by email. Have you received it?
If you received an automatic reply, your letter was received. Staff will attempt to manually match it to the application.
I don’t have an art history or art education background. Am I qualified for the fellowship?
Yes. Although the job description emphasizes art history and art education, applicants from all academic backgrounds are welcomed. The application process emphasizes art-making experience because all positions teach art-making in various ways.
I recently graduated from an advanced degree program, have been out of school for several years, or have recently changed careers. Am I eligible for the fellowship?
Yes. The goal of the fellowship is to provide opportunity and training to those who are relatively new to the field of museum education. “Recent college graduate” can be interpreted fairly broadly—even 4–5 years after graduating is fine. This qualification is best addressed in your cover letter.
I’m not a U.S. citizen. Am I eligible for the fellowship?
Anyone is welcome to apply, so long as you’re able to work legally in the United States (through a visa, green card, etc.). The Museum doesn’t sponsor visas and can’t assist in securing work authorization.
Is housing provided by the program?
No, the Museum can’t provide housing. Fellows are expected to pay for housing using their own resources, including the fellowship salary and, if needed, secondary income or other support.
How many hours per week are participants expected to dedicate to this program?
The fellowship is a full-time, 35-hour-per-week job that is highly demanding and involved. Fellows report to multiple supervisors and support several programs, are very actively engaged in the Museum’s daily activity, and leave the program with a great deal of hands-on experience. Therefore, candidates who are selected wouldn’t be able to hold any other full-time positions, and there isn’t any flexibility in the program start or end dates. Fellows should expect a challenging, high-impact experience that provides excellent preparation for a career in arts education and management.
The salary is low. Is it negotiable? What are the benefits?
Fellowship salaries are nonnegotiable due to budgetary restrictions. The $27 hourly rate amounts to approximately $39,690 over 10 months. Fellows also receive full-time employment benefits, including roughly $9,275 in healthcare coverage; 10 paid vacation days; 10 paid sick days; and approximately 10 paid Museum-wide holidays.
Other questions?
