Museum Guides

Three Positions available 

Part-time “on-call” varying schedule to provide educational programs, tours and gallery talks for students aged 10 through college level as well as private tours for adults.

Compensation varies depending on assignment.

Hours and workdays will fluctuate depending on program needs.

Interviews to begin in September

Background

Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, the Frick is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.

The collection originated with Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919), who bequeathed his home, paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts to the public for their enjoyment. The institution’s holdings—which encompass masterworks from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century—have grown over the decades, more than doubling in size since the opening of the museum in 1935. A critical component of the institution is the Frick Art Research Library, founded in 1920 by Helen Clay Frick, daughter of the museum’s founder. Recognized as one of the world’s top art history research centers, it has served students, scholars, and members of the public free of charge for generations.

The Frick has undergone a comprehensive renovation and was open in a temporary home, Frick Madison, from 2020 through early 2024, while renovations were underway at the mansion on 70th Street. Construction has progressed rapidly and, in addition to special exhibition galleries and education spaces, we have added enhanced visitor amenities and accessible spaces. The Museum and Art Research Library reopened to the public in April. 

Workplace culture

At the Frick Collection, we pride ourselves on promoting an open and welcoming workplace culture that supports diversity and work-life balance. The Frick strives to provide our employees with competitive salaries and exceptional benefits in a beautiful and pleasant work setting, while offering an excellent opportunity to appreciate some of the world’s finest works of art.

Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at The Frick Collection, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, alienage or citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, military status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status or any other protected characteristic as established by law. 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

Position Summary

The Museum Guides are a team of part-time educators at The Frick Collection. Together with full-time Education Department staff they lead private tours, deliver gallery talks and conversations, and teach Guided School, College, and University Visits onsite and online. 

They work primarily with adult audiences, and also with students ages 10 and above. Museum Guides must be skilled, experienced educators who excel both in public speaking and in facilitating inclusive conversations about works of art. 

They will be expected to develop a working knowledge of the Frick’s history as well as a deep understanding of works of art across the permanent collection, including European sculpture, European and Asian decorative arts, and the Old Master paintings for which the Frick is best known.

Although Museum Guide meetings, communications, and the majority of programs are conducted in English, the Frick seeks educators with the ability to discuss art historical content and relevant artistic practices fluently in Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL). Fluency in additional languages and/or native speakers of languages other than English are also encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Requirements 

The education and/or experience requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to successfully perform the essential duties of this position.  

• Undergraduate and/or graduate coursework in art history. A Master’s degree in art history or a related field, or equivalent work experience teaching similar artworks to adult audiences, is strongly recommended. 
• Cultural competency, listening skills, and a willingness to initiate discussions of complex topics with a range of audiences—including the contested legacies of the museum’s founder and the Western art historical canon more broadly—are integral to this position.
• Prior experience in a museum or informal learning environment working with a range of audiences. Past experience working with English language learners (ELLs) and people with disabilities is preferred, although additional professional development will also be provided.
• Fluency in Spanish or American Sign Language (ASL) preferred.  
• Museum Guides must have the ability to attend in-person meetings with museum staff and other Museum Guides. It is required that the Museum Guide be able to teach on Zoom with a reliable high-speed internet connection, or on other similar online meeting platforms when specially requested. 

Physical Requirements 

The candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the position and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. 

Physical requirements are comparable to most office roles: the ability to interact in-person with colleagues and museum visitors and use common office tools and machines (computer, phone); and the ability to traverse throughout the offices and building(s) both inside and outside of the museum, and visit different levels of the building. Ability to carry/transport materials weighing up to 20 pounds.  

Employment Status, Work Hours and Compensation 

This is a part-time nonexempt “on call” role. 

Since all Education staff are relied upon to support a vast array of Museum programs during 

open and closed hours, work shifts may be scheduled before/after regular business hours and on 

weekends. 

Compensation varies depending upon assignments and programming demands: 

• Leading Education programs, online and in-person, including Private Tours: $115/hour 
• public gallery talks and gallery programs: $125/hour 
• Guided School, College, and University Visits: $105/hour 
• Training, research, and all administrative and teaching preparation, and supporting the work of ASL interpreters and live CART captioners: $39.67/hour  

Under no circumstances may a Museum Guide work more than 28 hours/week nor on a holiday when the museum and our offices are closed.? 

Benefits in Employment with the Frick Collection 

Sick time: part-time employees and interns accrue sick leave up to 56 hours/year in accordance with the New York City Earned Sick Time Act.  

Retirement: The Frick supports all employees and interns in planning for retirement by offering participation in a Tax Deferred Savings Plan – 403(b). 

Wellness Programs at the Frick include an Employee Assistance Plan, a discount on Citi Bike memberships and a discount on bike helmets.  

Meal and Museum Shop discount: When employees are working onsite, they may access a discount on food pickup or delivery through Seamless/Grubhub. All employees are eligible to receive a discount on Frick Museum Shop purchases. 

Application Process  

Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. 

Interviews to begin in September. 

Apply here or send cover letter and resume to:

Education Department 

The Frick Collection 

1 East 70th Street 

New York, NY 10021 

For all Inquiries reach out to: [email protected]

This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment. 

Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. 

Interviews to begin in September.

Apply here or send cover letter and resume to:

Education Department 

The Frick Collection 

1 East 70th Street 

New York, NY 10021 

For all Inquiries reach out to: [email protected]

This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.