Current Opportunities

The FAO Schwarz Fellow will lead educational programs for visitors for their direct service work and expand the Museum’s understanding and implementation of best accessibility practices as well as create inclusive lesson plans for their special project work.

Work Schedule

With some flexibility at the supervisor’s discretion, the Fellow will be expected to be at the Whitney, like all other Museum staff, at least three days per week, with two of those days being Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Working remotely will be an option on other days, and some weekend attendance to participate in Saturday or Sunday education programs will be expected, discussed during the interview process, and confirmed before the selection of the Fellow.

The Whitney’s staff regular hours are 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, but given the nature of this position, some evening work on-site or remotely is to be expected. Accessible accommodations for work are always available by request.

Desired Skill and Experience

• BA required within the last 9 months at the start of Fellowship (summer 2023)
• Completion of at least two undergraduate courses on American art history or related subjects
• Experience conducting a complex research project in an academic or extracurricular setting
• Basic knowledge of social science research practices, including familiarity with research studies that combine quantitative and qualitative methodologies
• Demonstrated interest in learning best practices in teaching, arts education, Museum accessibility, and ADA compliance
• Demonstrated experience and interest working with youth identifying as disabled or having a disability (mobility disability, D/deaf, hard of hearing, low vision, blind, neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, and/or has an intellectual or developmental disability)
• Experience with interviews as a research tool preferred
• Teaching experience not required, but a plus
• Experience working with disabled individuals of any age and/ or familiarity with disability studies and accessible education preferred
• Articulated passion for creating inclusive environments for communities who experience systemic exclusion in the Arts
• Work experience in a nonprofit or art-related organization preferred
• Personal artistic practice is encouraged but not required
• Knowledge of ASL and/or Spanish is preferred but not required

Direct Service

Working with educators in the department and with the Associate Manager of Access and Inclusion, the FAO Schwarz Fellow will learn to plan, co-lead, and then lead programs for disabled and non-disabled youth and their families, design lessons, and engage in scaffolded learning.

They will train to understand needs and pedagogic approaches to working with visitors identifying as Disabled, d/Deaf, hard of hearing, neurodivergent, autistic, deaf-blind, blind, low-vision, and/or experiencing a range of cognitive, intellectual, developmental, and physical disability, chronic illness and/or sensory sensitivities. Familiarized with teaching methodologies, the Fellow will share observations, give colleagues recommendations, and learn why having an inclusive classroom environment is so important.

The Fellow will:

• Observe the education team, learn to develop hands-on activities, social narratives, and digital experiences to support audience engagement. (for example: observe Open Studios, shadow educators leading Family Fun for Families with Kids on the Autism Spectrum, Whitney Signs tours in American Sign Language, Touch and Verbal Description tours for families with blind or low vision youth and Quieter Hours for Neurodivergent Visitors).
• Co-teach artmaking workshops at the Whitney and introduce materials that may not be available to families at home, teaching new artistic processes, offering adaptations for those who may require so due to their disability.
• Partner with the Education teaching team to draft scaffolded art lessons that integrate works from the collection and respond to the developmental learning of participants, and eventually lead a program on their own.
• Develop an understanding of how the Museum can facilitate the whole visitor experience, ensuring the visitor services team knows how to support people who use wheelchairs, nursing mothers, or visitors who need a quiet space to decompress.
• With support, implement a curriculum to support professional development of peer educators and docents in becoming more knowledgeable about helping disabled people.

Special Project

The FAO Schwarz Fellow will conduct research to better understand and expand on the Museum’s accessibility offerings, co-create responsive lesson plans, and innovate lessons and learning modalities about the Whitney’s Collection and exhibitions. The Fellow may also conduct demographic research and analysis and other evaluation initiatives, working with colleagues in the Office of People and Culture and across the Museum as needed.

The Fellow will:

• Research best practices in NY, US, and international programs serving disabled youth, including outreach to peer organizations for comparative study, and thus develop at artroom management plan to be evaluated by colleagues and then implemented during a program serving youth and families.
• Identify community organizations in NYC working with disabled youth and families; learn how constituents find these programs, and assess participation barriers or enabling factors to connect this research with hands-on experience, as well as help develop impact-centered feedback surveys and test accessible feedback tools.
• Join in exhibition walkthroughs, permanent collection research sessions, professional development opportunities, lesson plan edit-thons with the Education Department.
• Teach and mentor Access and Inclusion Educators and partner with Family Programs team to design teaching methodologies that support incoming interns.
• Develop, with the Associate Manager of Access and Inclusion, a presentation of learnings and growth for a local conference such as NYCMER or MAC to encourage understanding of the Fellow’s contribution and impact through their fellowship.

Compensation

Fellows who start their Fellowship during the summer of 2023 will receive total compensation of approximately $85,000 plus benefits over the two-year Fellowship. 

• $40,000 in year one (includes $2,000 start of Fellowship bonus)
• $45,000 in year two (includes $3,000 end of Fellowship bonus)
• Health insurance coverage (100%--approximate value of $12,000 a year)
• Monthly subway pass (approximate value $1,200/year)
• Professional development & leadership training

Application Instructions:

Applicants must be college seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities at the time of application and be eligible to work in the United States for the duration of the two-year Fellowship.

For more about what we are seeking, please see the FAO Schwarz page.=

In your letter, please describe your interest in working at the Whitney Museum and your responses to the following questions:

Question 1: How did you learn about the FAO Schwarz Fellowship, and why are you interested in being a FAO Schwarz Fellow?

Question 2: Why are you interested in being the FAO Schwarz Fellow at the Whitney Museum? Why does their mission engage you?

Question 3: What background and experiences would you bring to the direct service and special project work at this organization?

We will review each application carefully and select our Fellow by April 29th. Thanks for your interest.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney:
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement:
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

COVID guidelines:
The health and safety of our Museum community is the highest priority. As such, the Whitney Museum is requiring all newly hired staff members to be fully vaccinated and boosted with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations for medical, religious, or other reasons will be considered in accordance with applicable law.