Ryan Learning Center Facilitator

Art Institute of Chicago•Chicago, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Learning Center (RLC) is a platform for culturally responsive experiences that bring young people and the adults around them into dynamic and inspiring encounters with art. We celebrate curiosity and creativity, with the conviction that meaningful experiences with art and with the museum enrich people’s lives, connect people to one another, and build confidence and the capacity to imagine, create, and make sense of the world. With an enduring commitment to equitable access, the Ryan Learning Center team engages children, teens, families, students, and educators through a wide array of programs, partnerships, and resources. These include guided gallery experiences, studio workshops, youth leadership opportunities, festivals and events, neighborhood-based engagements, and professional learning experiences. We serve all museum audiences through our free and accessible public learning space, the Ryan Learning Center. Through these experiences, learners can confidently engage with the museum as a resource, be critical thinkers and imaginative creators, and animate the museum as a place of insight, expression, and community. By focusing on Chicago learners and centering civic partnerships in our work, the Ryan Learning Center activates and amplifies the museum’s civic role and strategic priorities to serve Chicago audiences; expand our presence within neighborhoods; and cultivate a visitorship that reflects our city. As part of the Creative Spaces team, the RLC Facilitator actively teaches and contributes to the production of artmaking programs and installations in the Ryan Learning Center that enable the museum to be a creative, welcoming, inclusive, and accessible place for families and multigenerational audiences. In this part-time role, the RLC Facilitator acts as a daily captain in the Art Exchange, the museum’s public hub for learning and creativity for audiences of all ages. They are responsible for supporting the successful operation of Creative Spaces by facilitating welcoming artmaking experiences for families, maintaining the space and daily operations, and coordinating staff responsibilities and administrative needs as appropriate. In addition to captain shifts in the Art Exchange, the RLC Facilitator contributes to the development, refinement, and administration of Creative Spaces programs and installations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
2 years’ experience working with students, children, or families; adult professional development; and/or in museums or informal education settings preferred.
Emerging knowledge of early learning and curriculum design for drop-in, multigenerational programs; an understanding of current informal education trends, assessment, documentation, evaluation, and methods for differentiated learning and instruction; working understanding of children’s developmental levels.
Previous experience with artistic practices, working with artists, designing curriculum, teaching with works of art, and/or developing art-related content.
Familiarity with a variety of family-friendly artmaking materials and tools.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with audiences of different backgrounds, levels of knowledge, and types of ability.
Ability to function effectively as part of a team.
Strong problem-solving skills, ability to overcome everyday challenges and find practical solutions.
Proficiency in MS Office Suite and Google Suite required; experience with remote work tools preferred.

Nice To Haves

Spanish-language fluency is an asset in this position.

Responsibilities

2-3 shifts per week (back-up facilitator 1-2 shifts per week) in the Art Exchange, the Ryan Learning Center’s multigenerational, public learning space.
The Lead Facilitator is responsible for daily maintenance, cleaning, opening and closing procedures, provides instruction and guidance for engagements, and supports the direction of volunteers, part-time staff, and interns working in the Art Exchange.
Provides assistance, maintenance, and coordination support for Ryan Learning Center creative installations including the Trott Family Gallery, Multisensory Gallery, the McCormick Gallery, and the Art Exchange.
Participates in professional development and community-building with staff to sustain current teaching practices, maintain awareness of museum collections and exhibitions, and ensure adherence to logistical procedures.
Contributes to the training and coaching of volunteers and interns, as needed.
Contributes to the development of artmaking experiences by testing and providing input to staff who lead program development.
Implements a formal evaluation to gather feedback from visitors; provides timely reporting of issues to RLC staff on visitor experience and barriers, and generates recommendations based on visitor inputs.
Inventories, prepares, stocks, and organizes supplies for the Art Exchange as well as for larger scale onsite and offsite events, as needed.
At times, facilitate or support events that take place in the Ryan Learning Center, in the museum’s galleries, or in offsite locations, which may include leading drop-in studio artmaking experiences, supporting staff with event set-up and break-down, preparing and/transporting artmaking materials, and traveling to community sites.
Collaborates with colleagues across departments to coordinate the smooth operation of the Ryan Learning Center; provides timely and accurate reporting on attendance; provides administrative support to the department as needed.