Art Studio Manager Jobs in Renton, WA (NOW HIRING)

Position: Inclusive Learning Lead Educator

Reports to:Inclusive Learning Manager

Direct Reports:0

Division: Learning & Engagement

FLSA Status: Part Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $43.50/hour

Work Hours: 25 hours per week

Work Location: 20 hours per week on-site (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and select Saturday and Sundays); with the option to complete the remaining 5 hours remotely. Evening and weekend work at program events is required approximately 5 times per month.

About Frye Art Museum

Founded in 1952, the Frye is Seattle's free art museum, bringing together art and new ideas within a stunning Olson Sundberg Kundig-designed building in historic First Hill. A founding collection of turn-of-the-century oil paintings is bolstered by a wide range of modern and contemporary art holdings, reflecting our region's evolving identity and a commitment to exploring the art of our time.

About Learning & Engagement at the Frye

The Learning & Engagement division creates dynamic, reciprocal programs that connect artists, students, educators, and community members through art. Spanning Creative Aging, Inclusive Learning, Public Programs, and Visitor Services, our work centers on inquiry, creativity, accessibility, and well-being. Learning experiences emphasize close looking, guided inquiry, and multimodal engagement, creating welcoming opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with art and one another.

Position Summary

The Frye Art Museum seeks an experienced, collaborative, and community-centered educator to join the Learning & Engagement team as the Inclusive Learning Lead Educator ("Lead"). This position plays a central role in developing, coordinating, facilitating, and evaluating collection and exhibition-inspired learning experiences that connect people of all ages with art through inquiry, creativity, and dialogue.

Working closely with the Inclusive Learning Manager and a cohort of On-call Teaching Artists, the Lead develops curriculum, facilitates programs, supports Teaching Artist practice, cultivates community partnerships, and helps ensure consistent, inclusive, and high-quality learning experiences across K-12 school programs, family and intergenerational learning, educator engagement, Creative Aging, and public programs.

The Lead serves as a primary day-to-day resource for the Teaching Artist cohort, fostering a collaborative learning community through onboarding, shared planning, coaching, observation, and reflective practice. The Lead also works with schools, educators, artists, cultural organizations, and community partners to strengthen relationships, expand participation, and develop programs responsive to community interests.

Through partnerships, evaluation, reflection, and visitor feedback, the Lead continually strengthens learning experiences while advancing the Frye's commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion, and belonging. Together, the Inclusive Learning team creates welcoming experiences that spark curiosity, inspire creativity, strengthen community, and foster belonging and well-being through art.

Key Responsibilities

Program Planning & Community Engagement (30%)

• Collaborate with the Inclusive Learning Manager to develop and implement curriculum for an annual slate of collection and exhibition-inspired learning programs for K-12 students, families, educators, older adults, community groups, and intergenerational audiences.
• Cultivate partnerships with local schools, artists, cultural organizations, libraries, and community groups to co-create programs to expand participation, and strengthen community connections.
• Develop outreach strategies and interpretive resources that increase awareness of Learning & Engagement programs and foster welcoming pathways for new and returning audiences.
• Support the continued growth of legacy programs, including Field Trip to the Frye, Small Frye, Family Field Trip to the Frye, Creative Aging, and Educator Workshops, while helping develop new initiatives that respond to evolving community interests and museum priorities.
• Support the onboarding, collaborative planning, and professional growth of the Teaching Artist cohort through curriculum development, coaching, observation, and reflective practice.
• Research current exhibitions, artists, and emerging practices in museum education, accessibility, community engagement, and arts and well-being to inform program development, strategic planning, and departmental priorities.

Learning Facilitation & Visitor Engagement (50%)

• Facilitate inclusive learning experiences for K-12 students, families, educators, older adults, community organizations, and intergenerational audiences through inquiry-based gallery discussions, hands-on studio experiences, and public programs that encourage close-looking, creative exploration, and meaningful dialogue.
• Support participatory initiatives such as Drop-In Studio, Drop-In Drawing, Sensory Station Pop-Ups, and other public engagement programs.
• Model inclusive, inquiry-based teaching practices that foster belonging, accessibility, creativity, and well-being for visitors with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and levels of experience.
• Mentor and support On-call Teaching Artists through observation, coaching, collaborative planning, and ongoing feedback.
• Serve as a contact for guest artists, presenters, and program facilitators in coordination with the Inclusive Learning Manager.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to document programs through photography and other storytelling media that celebrate participant experiences.

Program Coordination, Documentation & Evaluation (20%)

• Coordinate program logistics, scheduling, registration, communications, studio preparation, and day-of implementation to ensure high-quality visitor experiences.
• Maintain program information, lesson plans, curriculum resources, facilitation guides, calendars, databases, project management systems, and other administrative tools to support consistent program delivery and knowledge sharing.
• Track attendance, participant feedback, and program outcomes to evaluate impact, inform future planning, and support departmental reporting and cross-departmental initiatives.
• Coordinate communication with Teaching Artists, presenters, educators, artists, and community partners to support successful program implementation.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to develop content for the museum website, blog, newsletter, and other promotional materials that highlight Inclusive Learning programs.
• Maintain studio materials, equipment, inventory, and supplies, including preparing materials and coordinating studio setup and cleanup.
• Participate in regular Teaching Artist cohort meetings, and Learning & Engagement team meetings and museum initiatives as requested.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a collaborative, community-centered educator who is equally comfortable facilitating learning experiences, mentoring Teaching Artists, building community partnerships, coordinating programs, and using evaluation to strengthen learning and visitor engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging, with experience creating welcoming, accessible learning experiences for diverse audiences.
• 3+ years of related work experience in museums, schools, arts and/or cultural organizations developing and facilitating inquiry-based, object-based, and hands-on learning experiences.
• 1+ years of experience supporting, mentoring, or coordinating the work of teaching artists, docents, volunteers, or other educators.
• Ability to interpret art collections and contemporary exhibitions through engaging gallery discussions and studio art making activities, effectively conveying their significance to diverse audiences to generate excitement and achieve learning goals.
• Active visual arts practice with expertise in at least one medium and the ability to teach and model techniques across a range of materials.
• Experience cultivating partnerships with schools, artists, educators, libraries, cultural organizations or community groups through collaborative outreach and relationship-building.
• Experience planning, implementing, and evaluating education programs, including managing multiple projects, timelines, and logistics simultaneously.
• Experience using participant feedback, attendance data, observations, or other evaluation methods to strengthen programs and inform future planning.
• Strong facilitation, public speaking, and written communication skills, with the ability to represent the Frye professionally while engaging audiences through inquiry, dialogue, and hands-on learning.
• Experience working with children and developing and facilitating discussion-based and hands-on lessons for multiple age groups and diverse abilities.
• Experience working with intergenerational and accessibility-centered learning.
• Knowledge and willingness to learn about the museum's collection and exhibitions.
• Demonstrated creativity, curiosity, collaboration, initiative, and sound judgment with the ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office, Zoom, and database or project management systems, with the ability to prioritize and multitask across multiple projects.
• Demonstrated positivity, flexibility, and ability to manage stress with humor, focus, and friendliness.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Professional proficiency in English.

Helpful/Nice to Have

• Bachelor's degree in art, art education, museum education, art therapy, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with Visual Thinking Strategies or other inquiry-based teaching methodologies.
• Experience working with older adults.
• Established relationships and active engagement within the local artist, education, or cultural community that can help cultivate new partnerships and expand the Frye's community engagement.
• Proficiency in Spanish or another language in addition to English.

Compensation & Benefits

• Full health benefits: Dental, Vision, Medical (100% employer paid option)
• Paid vacation and sick time accrual after 90 days of employment
• Transportation and Commuter benefits
• 403b savings plan with 5% employer match
• Employee assistance program
• 20% Museum store discount
• 15% Cafe discount
• Reciprocal museum membership

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter.

In the cover letter, please include brief responses to the following questions:

1. What interests you most about the Inclusive Learning Lead Educator role, and how do you see yourself contributing in this new position?
2. How do you evaluate whether a learning experience has been successful? Please share an example of how you used participant feedback, observations, attendance data, or another form of evaluation to improve a program or learning experience.
3. Tell us about one meaningful partnership or relationship you developed with a school, educator, artist, or community What was your role, how did you build trust, and what impact did the partnership have on the program or participants?
4. This position includes coordinating multiple programs, timelines, and partners. What tools, systems, or strategies do you use to stay organized and ensure a high-quality experience for participants and partners?

Deadline

Applications are due by 11:59pm PST on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

EEOC Statement

The Frye Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a workplace that reflects a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.