This spring, the Bank Street Graduate School of Education received a grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation to support a five-year renewal of Kress Fellowships in Museum Leadership. Renewing in July, the Fellowship supports enrollment in Bank Street’s Leadership in Museum Education Program for one incoming student and one continuing student annually through June 2024.
The two-year program, which culminates in a Master of Science in Education, is designed to enhance the skills of museum education professionals and further develop their capacity for leadership, organizational change, community engagement, diversity, inclusion, and access.
“Leadership in Museum Education offers courses at the Graduate School and on-site visits in New York City to allow students the opportunity to combine both theory and practice. Additionally, assignments are often put into practice at the students’ workplace,” said Brian Hogarth, Program Director of Leadership in Museum Education at Bank Street. “The Samuel H. Kress Foundation grant will help to support students as they engage in this important work to deepen their knowledge and expertise in the field.”
The Fellowships are awarded to students working in art institutions that have been accepted into the program in late spring/early summer.
Meeting one weekend per month and five days in early June, the program initially focuses on learning and public engagement, human development, diversity, collaboration, and interpretation in informal learning environments. The following year centers on managing and leading in the organization, including fundraising and development, organizational structures and communication, marketing, strategy, change, visitor research, finance, ethics, and organizational development.
Each student is assigned an advisor with extensive experience working in museums and cultural institutions. Advisors offer individual support through regular coaching and feedback and encourage students to reflect deeply on their practice throughout the two years of the program. Students also meet in small conference groups to share their experiences, creating a strong community and building a network of leaders in the field.
“With the continued support of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, we are able to seamlessly maintain the Fellowship for another five years,” said Kristin Conklin, Associate Vice President for Institutional Giving at Bank Street. “We look forward to welcoming the program’s newly accepted students in the fall and extending this opportunity to future students.”
For more information about the Leadership in Museum Education Program, click here