Community Engagement Educator
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.
Job Description:
Position Title: Community Engagement Educator
Position Type: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Division: Learning and Engagement
Department: Community Engagement
Reports to: Director of Community Partnerships
About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:
Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, charitable, non-profit organization with free admission.
The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where the community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. The Momentary enriches lives through music, art, and food experiences that inspire creativity, build community, and create joy. You belong here, make the most of this moment.
Position Summary:
Community Engagement Educator executes a hands-on portfolio of traveling art programs designed to expand access to the arts across Arkansas, and parts of Missouri and Oklahoma. Centered around the Mobile Art Lab, which is the museum’s traveling creative studio, this role requires frequent travel, which is approximately 50% of the time, to festivals, community events, and offsite venues to bring art experiences directly to communities to inspire creativity and engagement
Educator reports to the Director of Community Partnerships and works under the programmatic oversight of the Community Programs Manager, collaborating with local artists, community partners, and internal teams to deliver engaging, hands-on art experiences throughout the region. This position requires strong skills in event coordination, relationship building, and creative facilitation, with an emphasis on serving underrepresented and geographically isolated communities. The Educator also plays a vital role in supporting broader community engagement initiatives and representing the museum to the public.
A passion for travel, the flexibility to work in diverse, dynamic environments, and a willingness to work weekends and evenings are essential qualities for success in this highly mobile and community-focused role.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Execute Mobile Art Lab activations at festivals, schools, and community venues across Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
- Coordinate event setup, operations, and breakdown to ensure smooth and efficient experiences.
- Operate and maintain the Mobile Art Lab van for the transportation of materials and event support.
- Organize, inventory, and maintain Mobile Art Lab materials, tools, furniture, and supplies.
- Manage logistics related to loading, unloading, transporting, and storing event equipment and resources.
- Serve as a point of contact for local artists, community organizations, and regional partners.
- Implement outreach strategies to identify and engage new community partners, expanding the museum's reach with a focus on inclusion and accessibility.
- Represent Crystal Bridges and the Momentary at public events and community activities.
- Assist in managing operational logistics, including event budgets, contracts, rentals, AV support, and procurement of materials.
- Maintain detailed documentation, schedules, supply tracking, and reporting to support program delivery and continuous improvement.
- Support collaboration with community organizations on Mobile Art Lab activations, co-hosted events, networking gatherings, and additional engagement programs.
- Participate in the planning and implementation of workshops, group visits, and community co-hosted events.
- Contribute to the creation of inclusive and accessible communications and outreach materials.
- Coordinate and assist with planning museum visits for community groups, ensuring welcoming and tailored experiences.
- Collect and organize participant feedback and impact data.
- Assist in analyzing insights to support the ongoing refinement and improvement of community engagement programs.
Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in education, community arts, social practice, museum studies, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 2-4 years of experience in program management, community engagement, or audience outreach roles.
- Proven ability to manage projects, budgets, and teams effectively.
- Experience with program evaluation and audience research.
Education, Training, and Traits
- Bilingual experience preferred (Spanish and/or Marshallese)
- Must be able to work evenings and weekends for programs both onsite at the museum and in the community.
- Travel regularly (about 50%) to libraries, afterschool programs, community events and schools to execute Mobile Art Lab and other program initiatives across Arkansas and parts of Missouri and Oklahoma.
- Demonstrated experience with inclusive practices in community engagement, arts education, and building meaningful, sustainable relationships with diverse communities.
- A critical thinker who can analyze data, and capitalize on information
- A confident and team-oriented person who is creative, energetic, and accountable.
- Good communication skills
- A self-starter with strong motivation to succeed.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously
- Must project credibility, influence, and demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Proven ability to manage event logistics, supplies, and scheduling, particularly for offsite or traveling programs
- Valid driver’s license required. Travel around the Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri region is required.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Physical Demands:
- In the work environment described, this role requires a high level of physical activity and sustained use of a computer and telephone for prolonged periods of time. The position requires effective verbal and written communication with others, good eye/hand coordination, and the ability to lift and transport up to 75 pounds. Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This role regularly involves standing, walking, using hands and fingers to handle or operate tools, controls, and equipment, reaching with hands and arms, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and communicating clearly with others. The position requires standard maintenance equipment such as hand tools, power tools and ladders. Duties include performing routine inspections, which may involve navigating tight or elevated spaces, exposure to hot and cold equipment, and occasionally working at heights. The ability to respond promptly and physically to urgent situations, including during off-hours as part of the on-call rotation, is essential. Regularly, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served
- Work Environment:
- Work will be performed in an office environment (8 am -5 pm), museum galleries, art studios, schools, libraries and in communities served. Some evening and weekend hours are required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate. Reasonable accommodation may be reviewed and evaluated in the case of exhibitions exceeding noise levels. Some overnight travel may be necessary.
All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.
Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.