Partner Relations Officer, Academic and Interdisciplinary Arts

Art and Wellness Enterprises•Bentonville, AR

2d•$75,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Partner Relations Senior Officer, the Partner Relations Officer, Academic and Interdisciplinary Arts plays a key role in cultivating, sustaining, and strengthening relationships with a dynamic portfolio of partners across the country. This portfolio includes organizations with diverse missions and structures—such as academic museums and galleries, interdisciplinary museums, and hybrid cultural venues—each offering unique opportunities for activating American art in local contexts. The Officer manages a portfolio of museum partners, building deep institutional knowledge, maintaining regular communication, identifying new opportunities for collaboration, and supporting partners in achieving shared goals. The Officer serves as a thought partner and strategic liaison, guiding museums through every phase of the Art Bridges partnership lifecycle—from early engagement and onboarding to project development, implementation, and evaluation. This role contributes directly to Art Bridges’ national impact by ensuring that these complex museums receive the tailored, mission-aligned support they need to leverage available resources and sustain meaningful community engagement through American art. This role requires excellent communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a proactive approach to relationship management and strategic alignment. The Officer collaborates closely with colleagues across departments to ensure high-quality partner experiences and mission-driven impact.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Art History, Cultural Studies, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Management, or Museum Studies.
5+ years of experience working in or with art museums or cultural institutions in curatorial, programmatic, education, development, or partnership roles.
Strong understanding of academic or hybrid museum environments and the unique opportunities/challenges they present for exhibition and engagement work.
Proven ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships across institutions and departments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strength in thoughtful, adaptive relationship management.
Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and project tracking tools.
Highly organized with the ability to balance multiple projects and relationships simultaneously.
Willingness and ability to travel nationally as required.
A curious, collaborative, and mission-driven mindset with high degree of discretion and professionalism.
Proactive, clear, and empathetic communicator.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of active and emerging museum partners with interdisciplinary or hybrid missions, fostering strong, trust-based relationships focused on long-term engagement and collaborative success.
Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned institutions, maintaining consistent, proactive communication and offering personalized strategic support.
Contribute to the development and implementation of partner engagement strategies that focus on retention, satisfaction, and impact.
Collaborate with internal departments to deliver timely, relevant, and mission-aligned support to partners.
Track and maintain detailed documentation on partner engagement, activities, and institutional context using Art Bridges’ CRM and portfolio tools.
Guide partners through onboarding processes, ensuring clarity and alignment at each step.
Help re-engage inactive or paused partners through personalized outreach and strategic re-entry conversations.
Participate in the planning and execution of partner convenings, events, and gatherings.
Represent Art Bridges at regional and national field gatherings, conferences, and partner visits.
Support internal evaluation efforts by contributing field-based insights, engagement data, and partner feedback.
Other duties as assigned.