Job Description

The Walker Art Center empowers people to experience the transformative possibilities of the art and ideas of our time and to imagine the world in new ways. In our over 125-year history, we have become one of the most celebrated art museums in the country, and we are known for our innovative presentations and acclaimed collections of contemporary art across the spectrum of the visual, performing, and media arts.

The Gallery Assistant is a welcoming, attentive, and informed presence in Walker’s galleries and public spaces. This role supports an excellent visitor experience while helping protect artworks, visitors, staff, and the museum environment.

Gallery Assistants provide wayfinding, basic exhibition and program information, accessibility-aware visitor support, and respectful communication of museum guidelines. They monitor gallery conditions and visitor behavior, report safety or facilities concerns, and escalate issues to the Gallery Experience Manager, Security, or other appropriate staff.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with the public, can remain alert in both quiet and busy gallery settings, and is comfortable balancing hospitality with the responsibility of protecting artworks and maintaining a safe, inclusive museum environment.

Key Responsibilities

Visitor Experience and Hospitality

•  Welcome visitors and help create a warm, inclusive, and accessible museum experience.
• Provide wayfinding, general museum information, and basic information about current exhibitions, programs, events, amenities, and visitor guidelines.
• Support visitors with a wide range of needs, including families, school groups, disabled visitors, multilingual visitors, first-time museumgoers, and visitors unfamiliar with contemporary art spaces. 
• Recognize when visitors want conversation, assistance, or independent viewing.
• Communicate visitor questions, feedback, or recurring concerns to the Gallery Experience Manager.

Gallery Stewardship and Artwork Protection

• Maintain an attentive presence in assigned galleries and public spaces.
• Help protect artworks by monitoring visitor behavior and supporting safe object distance.
• Respectfully remind visitors of museum guidelines related to touching artwork, food and drink, photography, bags, strollers, restricted areas, noise, and other gallery expectations.
• Observe and report artwork, environmental, facilities, or safety concerns, including damage, leaks, temperature or lighting issues, crowding, spills, or other hazards.
• Follow exhibition-specific guidance for interactive, time-based, performance, or media-based artworks.

Policy Communication and De-escalation

• Communicate museum policies clearly, consistently, and respectfully.
• Use sound judgment when responding to visitor behavior, complaints, confusion, or conflict.
• Apply guidelines consistently across visitors and visitor groups.
• Escalate concerns to the Gallery Experience Manager, Security, or other appropriate staff when additional support is needed.
• Remain calm and professional during high-volume periods, special events, policy-enforcement moments, or unexpected situations.

Safety, Security, and Incident Response

• Use radios and other communication tools according to Walker protocols.
• Report incidents, suspicious activity, medical concerns, visitor conflicts, facilities issues, or emergency situations promptly and accurately.
• Support emergency procedures, including evacuation, sheltering, crowd movement, and visitor direction, under the guidance of the Gallery Experience Manager, Security, or designated emergency staff.
• Complete incident documentation or visitor reports as directed.
• Participate in required safety, security, accessibility, and emergency-response training.

Daily Operations and Team Communication

• Attend shift briefings and remain current on daily assignments, post rotations, exhibitions, programs, gallery closures, access updates, and special events.
• Follow assigned gallery posts, break schedules, and floor-coverage expectations.
• Collaborate with Gallery Experience, Security, Visitor Experience, Facilities, Registration/Collections, Curatorial, Learning/Public Engagement, and Events staff.
• Support a reliable and professional floor operation by arriving on time, communicating schedule needs promptly, and following departmental procedures.
• Participate in ongoing training, coaching, and performance feedback led by the Gallery Experience Manager.

WHAT WE NEED IN YOU 

Minimum Requirements

• Strong visitor-service orientation and comfort working with the public.
• Clear, calm, and respectful communication skills.
• Ability to remain attentive and observant during both quiet and busy periods.
• Sound judgment and ability to escalate concerns appropriately.
• Commitment to welcoming, inclusive, and accessible museum experiences.
• Ability to apply policies consistently and respectfully.
• Ability to work independently at assigned posts while staying connected to the larger floor team.
• Willingness to complete paid training in gallery procedures, art protection, accessibility practices, de-escalation, radio communication, incident reporting, and emergency response.
• Ability to stand, walk, and remain alert for extended periods, with reasonable accommodations as needed.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events. 
• Possession of a personal mobile device capable of supporting work-related communication (e.g., 2FA, messaging, or scheduling applications)

Preferred Skills

• Experience in museums, galleries, libraries, schools, hospitality, retail, events, security, public programs, or other public-facing environments.
• Interest in contemporary art, museums, education, public engagement, or visitor experience.
• Experience supporting large crowds, school groups, families, or public events.
• Experience working with disabled visitors or familiarity with accessibility practices.
• CPR/First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Regularly works in gallery and public-space environments with varying levels of sound, light, visitor traffic, and activity.
• Must be able to stand, walk, observe gallery activity, and communicate with visitors and staff for extended periods.
• May occasionally need to assist with crowd movement, respond to urgent situations, or move quickly between gallery spaces.
• Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Training Provided

Walker will provide paid training in areas including:

• Gallery procedures and daily floor operations
• Artwork protection and object-distance standards
• Visitor guideline communication
• Accessibility and inclusive visitor support
• De-escalation and conflict response
• Radio protocol and internal communication
• Incident reporting and documentation
• Emergency procedures and evacuation support
• Exhibition-specific information and visitor engagement practices

Success in This Role

A successful Gallery Assistant helps visitors feel welcomed, respected, and informed while maintaining attentive care for artworks and public spaces. They communicate guidelines with warmth and consistency, notice and report issues early, support safe and accessible gallery experiences, and work collaboratively with the Gallery Experience Manager, Security, and other Walker staff.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS This position is considered part-time, non-exempt. As a non-exempt position, it is eligible for overtime pay. The compensation for this role is $18.10 hourly. 

This position is temporary and is expected to start in October 2026 and end in February 2027.

The Walker offers a wide range of benefits for both part-time and full-time employees, click link to view benefits: 

This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.

All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

Walker’s DEI commitment  The Walker is committed to being an employer with a staff who, at all job levels, reflects the rich diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We are dedicated to ensuring inclusion and equity in all our employment practices. We deeply value and welcome all the unique lived experiences in our applicants and encourage anyone meeting the minimum requirements to apply.

Recruitment Timeline  All positions are open until filled. 

E-Verify Participation Notice  Walker Art Center participates in E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

For more information, please review the following notices:

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