Opportunities

Community Coordinator

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The Wende Museum, based in Culver City, CA is a nonprofit art museum, historical archive of the Cold War, and center for creative community engagement that explores and inspires change.

The Wende Museum goes beyond the traditional boundaries of a museum, with a commitment to community engagement and experimental public programming. Its mission is to illuminate the past, make sense of the present, and inspire active participation in shaping the future. The forthcoming Glorya Kaufman Community Center (GKCC) will expand the museum’s reach, offering a dynamic space for community events, educational programs, as well as state-of-the- art facilities and technology.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Wende Museum is seeking an organized, enthusiastic, and solutions-oriented Community Coordinator to join our team. The Community Coordinator will play a vital role in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment within the Glorya Kaufman Community Center, coordinating events for community partners, organizing arts and culture classes for the community, and facilitating private event rentals for vetted community groups. The ideal candidate is passionate about collaboration, has experience in the creation of welcome spaces for community engagement, and has a genuine interest in supporting visual and performing arts and creative expression.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Event Planning and Execution:

• Develop and manage protocols for receiving and reviewing event proposals from community organizations.

• In collaboration with Deputy Director, develop a process for vetting community partners.

• Develop and maintain a list of trusted vendors such as technicians, caterers, and event rental companies that can be provided to community organizations.

• Act as the main point of contact for designated community partners who have been granted regular access to the GKCC, including Upward Bound House, CCUSD, United States Veterans ’Artists Alliance, and the City of Culver City, Mayme Clayton Library and Museum and manage the commitments to each organization.

• Liaise with contracted teachers for classes and workshops offered in the GKCC.

• Manage the master calendar for the GKCC across the various spaces, i.e. the theater and the classroom.

• Oversee community events and programs setup, including any technical requirements, signage, and displays.

• Collaborate with Director of Programming, Programs and Events Manager, and Head of Education on Wende events at the GKCC.

• Support Head of Facilities by overseeing the day-to-day operations of the GKCC, ensuring that spaces are well-maintained and conducive to creative activities.

• Keep records of attendance, feedback, and outcomes of events and programs, and generate reports to assess the effectiveness of initiatives.

• Support the Wende’s Head of Communications by organizing promotional materials, social media content, and engaging campaigns for community programs at the GKCC.

• Regularly gather input from visitors to the GKCC to identify areas for improvement and new opportunities for programming.

• Prepare and manage program and event budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to financial guidelines.

• Track expenses, review invoices, and reconcile financial records for community programs and events.

• Provide regular budget and attendance reports and analysis to the Deputy Director.

• Willingness and ability to work some evenings and weekends.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., arts management, community development, event planning) or equivalent experience.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to connect with a diverse range of individuals.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Creative thinker with a passion for fostering creativity in others.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of managing multiple tasks and deadlines.

• Experience in event planning, community engagement, or related roles is preferred.

• Proficiency in using social media platforms and basic graphic design tools.

• Knowledge of local performing arts and cultural scene is a plus.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate events and activities.

COMPENSATION

Pay: $70,000 – 80,000 depending on experience

Benefits: Health Insurance, Vacation, Sick and Holidays, 403B retirement plan, and parking

Position is available January 13, 2025.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume, cover letter, and any relevant portfolio materials to opportunities@wendemuseum.org. Please highlight your experience in community engagement, event planning, and your passion for creativity and the arts.

The Wende Museum is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those without formal education, to apply.

Collections Internship

“Wende” is a German word that means “transformation.” It is commonly used to describe the era of uncertainty and possibility leading up to and following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Headquartered in a renovated National Guard Armory in Culver City, the Wende Museum is a cultural laboratory that pairs unparalleled collections from the Cold War era with contemporary artists, filmmakers, musicians, scholars, and others. The Wende’s collection encompasses more than 100,000 holdings, ranging from consumer products to fine art, political symbols, audiovisual materials, spy equipment, posters, ephemera, commemoratives, books, archives, and personal histories.

The Wende Museum offers Collections Internships for currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students, as well as recent graduates who are interested in gaining experience in collection management, collection development, and artifact research. Positions are part-time, paid at $18/hour for 120 hours, and available for course credit. Internships are offered year-round, typically beginning in January, June, and September.

The Collections Internship will focus on cataloging the Museum’s incoming acquisitions and existing backlog. Interns will gain experience in key areas of object handling, processing objects, and using a museum database (Mimsy XG). Interns will have the opportunity to directly work with artifacts from the Cold War and be exposed to a variety of museum activities. Potential interns must meet the following criteria for consideration:

• Be available to work part-time between Monday and Friday;
• Have completed at least one semester of college by the time of application;
• Possess an interest in museum studies, collections management, history, and/or material and visual culture of the Cold War;
• Be comfortable working with databases and computers;
• Be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and independent, with excellent communication skills;
• A reading knowledge of German, Russian, or an Eastern European Language is helpful but not required.

We are currently accepting applications for our Summer internship, which is set to begin in June 2025, through May 2. To apply, please fill out this form and send a cover letter outlining your interest and a current resume to internships@wendemuseum.org.

Please indicate that you are applying for the Collections Internship, both in the email subject and cover letter.