The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.
Job Description:
Position Title: Director of Arts in Medicine and Wellbeing
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Department: Learning and Engagement
Reports to: Chief Learning and Engagement Officer
About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:
Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.
The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.
Position Summary:
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary (CBMO) seek a strategic and collaborative leader to oversee their arts in medicine and wellbeing portfolio. This role encompasses arts integration and medical education partnerships with the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) and peer institutions, arts programming in clinical and caregiver healthcare settings, and public-facing art-and-wellbeing initiatives across campus.
The Director will strengthen CBMO’s contribution to the evolving field of arts in medicine and wellbeing through strong partnerships, evidence-informed practice, and excellent program execution. The role is accountable for program quality, outcomes, and visibility within this portfolio—ensuring work is well-managed, aligned with divisional and institutional priorities, and supported by clear evaluation and continuous learning.
In addition, the Director will help identify and advance portfolio-level earned-income opportunities in partnership with the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and internal partners, including ticketed wellness experiences, professional learning offerings, and sponsored or fee-for-service partnership models aligned to divisional priorities.
This position reports to the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and supervises the Director of Arts in Medicine (AWSOM curriculum integration) and a Museum Educator supporting arts-and-wellbeing initiatives. Additional project-based staff and contractors may support this work. The Director serves as a member of the Learning & Engagement leadership team alongside other department heads.
Principal Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership and Growth
- Develop and implement a multi-year strategy for the arts in medicine and wellbeing portfolio in alignment with divisional and institutional priorities.
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Identify, test, and scale growth opportunities within the arts in medicine and wellbeing portfolio (new partners, pilots, and program models), including earned-income and funding pathways developed in partnership with the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and relevant internal teams, to expand impact while protecting quality and capacity.
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Foster relationships with key stakeholders, including AWSOM, healthcare institutions, and community partners, to advance the goals, quality, and visibility of this portfolio and support CBMO’s contribution to the arts and health field.
Oversight of Arts Integration at AWSOM
- Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Associate Director for AWSOM curriculum integration—confirming priorities, scope, timelines, resourcing, and quality standards in partnership with AWSOM stakeholders.
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Ensure alignment between AWSOM’s educational objectives and CBMO’s mission, leveraging the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and unique setting.
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Collaborate with AWSOM faculty and staff to evaluate and strengthen the impact of arts integration on student learning and wellbeing-related outcomes.
Development of Wellbeing Programs
- Lead the development and oversight of public-facing arts-and-wellbeing programs across Crystal Bridges and the Momentary that promote whole health and advance divisional priorities.
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Partner with Learning and Engagement colleagues to shape and deliver innovative programs that integrate the arts with whole-health practices, drawing on the museum’s art, architecture, and natural spaces to support meaningful public experiences.
Healthcare Partnerships
- Lead the development of arts-based programming in healthcare settings, collaborating with institutions like Arkansas Children’s Hospital and others.
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Facilitate partnerships with healthcare providers to design and implement programs that support patient, staff, and caregiver wellbeing goals defined with partners.
Artist Strategy, Ethical Practice, and Training
- Establish clear guidelines for artists working in clinical and wellbeing settings, ensuring practices are ethical, safe, and aligned with partner requirements.
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Develop training and onboarding frameworks for artists, educators, and contractors in healthcare and medical education contexts.
Team Leadership and Collaboration
- Provide strategic oversight and mentorship to the Director of Arts in Medicine and the Museum Educator, supporting their professional growth and ensuring high-quality delivery and follow-through across initiatives.
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Collaborate with internal teams across CBMO to integrate well-being principles and content into exhibitions, programs, and initiatives.
Field Leadership, Visibility, and Thought Partnership
- Represent CBMO’s arts in medicine and wellbeing portfolio in local and national arts and-health networks, in alignment with divisional leadership; cultivate peer relationships with museums, health systems, universities, and funders to help position CBMO as a recognized contributor to the arts and health field through this body of work.
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Translate emerging research and practice into clear program design standards and staff/artist training approaches appropriate to CBMO and partner settings.
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Partner with internal stakeholders to contribute to clear, accurate, and responsible messaging about CBMO’s arts and wellbeing work.
Evaluation, Impact, and Learning
- Define success measures with partners (AWSOM, healthcare systems, and community organizations) and ensure programs include fit-for-purpose evaluation methods and feedback loops.
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Use quantitative and qualitative learning to improve program quality, strengthen partner value, and inform decisions about scaling or adaptation.
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Partner with internal evaluation and data resources to ensure impact reporting is accurate, evidence-informed, and appropriate to the program context and audience.
Revenue Strategy and Sustainability
- In collaboration with the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and internal partners, identify and advance mission-aligned revenue and funding opportunities for the portfolio, including ticketed experiences, professional learning, grants, sponsorships, and fee-for-service or partner-supported models.
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Develop program models and annual workplans with clear budgets, staffing needs, deliverables, and revenue potential to support responsible growth.
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Partner with Development, Finance, and Division Operations to align earned-income plans, philanthropic strategy, and partner commitments in support of sustainable growth.
Qualifications and Skills:
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Demonstrated content expertise in arts in medicine and wellbeing (arts and health), including evidence-informed practice and current field standards across medical education, healthcare systems, and public-facing wellbeing programming.
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Proven leadership of multidisciplinary programs that integrate art with health and whole-person wellbeing across public, educational, and clinical contexts, with accountability for outcomes and continuous improvement.
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Strong understanding of museum collections, exhibitions, pedagogy, and learning environments—and the ability to translate them into scalable program models and facilitation standards that meet partner needs in medical education and healthcare environments.
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Proven success building and stewarding cross-sector partnerships (healthcare, higher education, philanthropy, and community organizations), including clarifying deliverables, roles, decision-making, timelines, and accountability.
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Ability to build financially viable program models that combine earned income, philanthropy, and partner-funded support—paired with sound budget management and operational planning.
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Evaluation and learning mindset: comfort using qualitative and quantitative feedback to improve programs and communicate impact responsibly to partners, funders, and public audiences.
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Exceptional leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, including the ability to lead across teams and influence without direct authority.
Work Experience and Education:
- Advanced degree in a relevant field (Arts in Medicine, Museum Education, Medical Humanities, Public Health, or similar), or equivalent professional experience.
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5+ years of progressive leadership experience in arts-in-medicine, museum education, healthcare, or related fields, including strategic planning, program development, and delivery.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Valid driver’s license with clean driving record required. Willing and able to travel as needed.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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Physical demands: In the work environment described below, position requires sitting at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds. Visual acuity to view artworks and written materials is required for this job. While performing the duties of this job, employee is occasionally required to independently travel.
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Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, classrooms, and in communities served. The physical arrangement of the office may require the position to work in an open environment within close proximity to other colleagues. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate. Occasional evening and weekend work hours are required.
All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.
Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.
