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A.R.T. (Art, Research, and Teaching) Guide Program

Join the Brooklyn Museum in making space for thoughtful encounters with great art as a catalyst for a more connected, civic, and empathetic world. The A.R.T. Guide Program is a volunteer program for individuals interested in sharing their love of art with others while developing teaching and public speaking skills. 

What is the A.R.T. Guide Program?

This is an unpaid, volunteer program with a minimum two-year commitment.

New A.R.T. Guides are trained in an introductory course designed to acquaint them with museum education theory, teaching practice, and the Brooklyn Museum’s collections. Incoming A.R.T. Guides will also be paired with a peer mentor who will support them as they develop their tours. 

After the introductory course and initial training period, new volunteers join the rest of the A.R.T. Guide group in ongoing learning throughout their time in the program. These regular, bi-montly courses include focused art historical study of the Museum’s collections and special exhibitions, as well as continued exploration of teaching techniques in museum education. The training schedule is structured like an academic year, taking place during both fall and spring semesters, with breaks during the winter and summer months. Trainings are available on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings to accommodate a variety of schedules, and every effort is made to record the class.

Trainings include:

  • Bi-monthly workshops and seminars in the galleries led by Museum curators, specialists, and educators
  • Interdisciplinary discussions of our collections and special exhibitions
  • Behind-the-scenes experiences and exclusive previews of our exhibitions
  • Focused study in art history and museum education

A.R.T. Guides lead a variety of experiences for adult audiences. While topics must engage with our collections and/or special exhibitions, we welcome a wide range of innovative teaching models and gallery experiences. A.R.T. Guides will be responsible for a minimum of twelve tours per calendar year (though most Guides lead at least two tours per month) with flexible scheduling.

By creating your own tours as an A.R.T. Guide, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your public speaking and communication skills, serve as an ambassador between the Museum and our audiences, and become a valued part of our dynamic community. Some Guides have even gone on to be contractual educations at museums!

Other perks include:

  • Metrocards and parking passes to support in-person trainings and tours
  • Snacks and some meals for in-person trainings
  • Discounts at the Museum Shop and Café
  • Exclusive access to Museum events and programs
  • Free admission to the Brooklyn Museum and to museums across New York City and the United States

What does “A.R.T.” stand for?

We emphasize three key skills as part of our program: art, research, and teaching. 

Art: A.R.T. Guides are passionate about art and the conversations it encourages. Through theA.R.T. Guide Program, Guides have the opportunity to research and engage with our encyclopedic collections and special exhibitions through in-depth learning while also sharing their perspectives with fellow participants.

Research: The Museum places excellence in art, education, and scholarship at its core. A.R.T. Guides have access to our distinguished Libraries and Archives and conduct research on works in our collections and special exhibitions to prepare for their gallery conversations. 

Teaching: We are leaders in the field of museum education. A.R.T. Guides join our dedicated and forward-thinking team of educators to further conversations around the cultural and civic function of art and museums. They engage in ongoing training in teaching practices and are encouraged to be creative with how they engage our audiences in the galleries. Guides facilitate experiences that allow our visitors to explore the Museum as a place for social action and free expression where we all can continue to learn and expand the ways we see ourselves, the world, and its possibilities.

What do A.R.T. Guides do?

A.R.T. Guides lead a variety of tour experiences for adult visitors, including:

  • Hour-long thematic conversational tours of the collection
  • Pop-up talks in permanent collection galleries and special exhibitions
  • Remote conversation experiences for older adults unable to attend the Museum in person
  • Conversations for students in adult literacy programs (including adult basic education, high school equivalency, and English to Speakers of Other Languages [ESOL] classes) and our series We Speak Art that provides English language practice
  • Experiences in languages other than English including Hablemos de Arte (Spanish language practice), and monthly Spanish language and Russian language tours

Who can be an A.R.T. Guide?

We’re looking for:

  • A commitment to and passion for art, accessibility, and social justice
  • Excitement to learn teaching techniques and strategies
  • An awareness of what makes the Brooklyn Museum unique
  • A two-year minimum commitment
  • All experience levels—no background in art or education necessary
  • Fluency in languages other than English, especially Spanish and Russian, desirable

Applications for the A.R.T. Guide Program are currently closed. Please check back for information on future application cycles. Thank you for your interest!

Questions? Email us at bkmartprogram@brooklynmuseum.org.