Education + Public Program Specialist
| Full-Time | contract | July 2024 – June 2025 |
Hawaiʻi Contemporary seeks a Curator of Education + Public Programs to join a dynamic team that develops and presents the Hawaiʻi Triennial, a thematic exhibition of contemporary art from Hawai‘i and around the world. Reporting to the Executive Director and Associate Director, this manager-level position works closely with the curatorial team to develop and oversee all aspects of the Triennial’s public programming and is responsible for the integration of Triennial-based arts education into public, private, and charter-school programs across the Hawaiian Islands, with a focus on O‘ahu. Essential to the core objectives of the organization, this position provides insightful public programming and meaningful arts education for K-12 students to enhance the interpretation and understanding of Hawai‘i Triennial 2025 (HT25). Entitled ALOHA NŌ, HT25 is the state’s largest thematic exhibition of contemporary art from Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and beyond.
The Curator of Education + Public Programs plays a key role in fostering partnerships and collaborations that enhance the educational reach and impact of HT25. Thematically, the artwork in HT25 underscores the importance of community stewardship of Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources, fostering connections to ‘āina, ʻohana, and each other. This position offers flexibility and the creative space in which to connect with a diverse community in Hawai‘i and to develop learning opportunities around contemporary art and ideas.
Key Responsibilities
- Work with curatorial team to develop and implement a comprehensive series of public programs (including but not limited to artist talks, film screenings, artist/curator-led gallery tours, hands-on workshops, art-related demonstrations, onsite tours/excursions, etc.) that expand upon the themes and artworks presented in Hawaiʻi Triennial 2025.
- Reporting to the Executive Director, liaise with program participants, collaborate with presenting partners, manage budgets, and coordinate all logistics to ensure the successful presentation of all public programs.
- Outreach to local K-12 schools, including Kaiapuni Schools, Charter Schools, Hawaiian-serving schools, and public schools in communities with high concentrations of Native Hawaiians (e.g., Waiʻanae Coast, Waimānalo). Arrange field trips and school visits to Triennial sites of exhibition on Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island during 15 February – 04 May 2025.
- Develop K-12 student curricula around Hawai‘i Triennial 2025 (HT25) and its theme, ALOHA NŌ, and workshop them with K-12 educators for future integration in their respective classrooms in Spring 2025.
- Integrate the HT25 theme, ALOHA NŌ, in curricula through kaona (layered meanings) of aloha as manifested in aloha ʻāina (love of the land), mo‘okū‘auhau (genealogy to people and place), mo‘olelo (storied traditions), and ho‘opono (healing through speaking truth, forgiveness, and mutual emergence).
- Engage with educators around the state to arrange Triennial-centered, in-classroom programming, when appropriate, for fall 2024 and spring 2025.
- Develop and translate educational materials and Hawaiʻi Triennial-based K-12 curriculum into ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
- Create engaging, HT25-centered activities for keiki in conjunction with select artist projects on an ongoing basis.
- Manage Young Contemporaries, a professional development program that offers a cohort of high school students on Oʻahu opportunities to learn about exhibition making, working as an artist, and collaborating with curators and arts professionals.
- Manage docent hui, including outreach to docent pool, arranging curator walk-throughs and training sessions, providing docents exhibition and logistics updates, scheduling docents across multiple locations, and managing invoices.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Education, Art History, Museum Studies, or a related field.
- Proven experience in educational programming, curriculum development, and public engagement in a museum, educational institution, arts organization, or similar setting.
- Proficiency in Google Workspace (docs, sheets, slides, etc), Zoom, and Asana.
- Strong organizational, communication, and project and time management skills.
- Proactive, independent workstyle with the ability to work collaboratively, when needed, with diverse teams and communities.
- Knowledge of Hawaiian culture, Hawai‘i history, and contemporary art.
- Written fluency in or knowledge of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is desirable.
- Ability to travel inter-island, as required.
Working Conditions
This full-time, contract position offers flexible hours and remote working, with regular in-person or online check-ins and staff meetings. Due to the nature of our work, this position may need to work evenings and/or weekends during the immediate lead-up and duration of the event: Hawai‘i Triennial 2025, entitled ALOHA NŌ, 15 Feb – 04 May 2025.
Compensation
This position is compensated commensurate with experience.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a résumé, cover letter, and three references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the Curator of Education + Public Programs position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities associated with the role. Applicants who may not possess all of the job qualifications are still encouraged to apply. Hawaiʻi Contemporary is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including Kānaka ʻŌiwi and other underrepresented groups.
If you submit your résumé by email, please regard it as having been received unless your email is bounced back. All personal data collected will be used for recruitment purposes only. Applicants not hearing from us within two months may consider their applications unsuccessful and all personal data supplied will be destroyed within six months.
About Hawai‘i Contemporary
Inspired by the unique histories of Hawai‘i as a gathering place for diverse peoples, cultures, and ideas, Hawai‘i Contemporary connects communities from across our islands and regions united by the Pacific Ocean through contemporary art. As a collaborative partner, we organize the Hawai‘i Triennial every three years, the state’s largest, thematic exhibition of contemporary art from Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and beyond. The multi-site exhibition has commissioned and presented work by more than 130 artists and art collectives from around the world. Complemented by year-round public programming, Hawai‘i Triennial affirms the organization’s mission to positively contribute to a vibrant arts ecosystem in Hawai‘i and inspire meaningful exchanges around the visual arts. Formerly known as Honolulu Biennial Foundation, Hawai‘i Contemporary is a not-for-profit organization.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract
Pay: $24.00 - $30.00 per hour
Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Weekends as needed
Ability to Commute:
- Honolulu, HI 96817 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Honolulu, HI 96817: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Honolulu, HI 96817