Partner Relations Officer, Academic and Interdisciplinary Arts

Partner Relations Officer, Academic and Interdisciplinary Arts

Position Title:

Partner Relations Officer, Academic & Interdisciplinary

Reporting to:
Partner Relations Senior Officer

Location:

Bentonville, AR

Salary Range:$75,000 – $85,000

Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Since 2017, Art Bridges has created and supported projects that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 200 museums of all sizes and locations on nearly 900 projects—impacting more than 5.3 million people across 49 states and Puerto Rico—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, loans from the Art Bridges Collection and Partner Loan Network, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences.

The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.

Reporting to the Partner Relations Senior Officer, the Partner Relations Officer, Academic and Interdisciplinary Arts plays a key role in cultivating, sustaining, and strengthening relationships with a dynamic portfolio of partners across the country. This portfolio includes organizations with diverse missions and structures—such as academic museums and galleries, interdisciplinary museums, and hybrid cultural venues—each offering unique opportunities for activating American art in local contexts.

The Officer manages a portfolio of museum partners, building deep institutional knowledge, maintaining regular communication, identifying new opportunities for collaboration, and supporting partners in achieving shared goals. The Officer serves as a thought partner and strategic liaison, guiding museums through every phase of the Art Bridges partnership lifecycle—from early engagement and onboarding to project development, implementation, and evaluation.

This role contributes directly to Art Bridges’ national impact by ensuring that these complex museums receive the tailored, mission-aligned support they need to leverage available resources and sustain meaningful community engagement through American art. This role requires excellent communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a proactive approach to relationship management and strategic alignment. The Officer collaborates closely with colleagues across departments to ensure high-quality partner experiences and mission-driven impact.

• Manage a portfolio of active and emerging museum partners with interdisciplinary or hybrid missions, fostering strong, trust-based relationships focused on long-term engagement and collaborative success.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned institutions, maintaining consistent, proactive communication and offering personalized strategic support.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of partner engagement strategies that focus on retention, satisfaction, and impact.
• Collaborate with internal departments to deliver timely, relevant, and mission-aligned support to partners.
• Track and maintain detailed documentation on partner engagement, activities, and institutional context using Art Bridges’ CRM and portfolio tools.
• Guide partners through onboarding processes, ensuring clarity and alignment at each step.
• Help re-engage inactive or paused partners through personalized outreach and strategic re-entry conversations.
• Participate in the planning and execution of partner convenings, events, and gatherings.
• Represent Art Bridges at regional and national field gatherings, conferences, and partner visits.
• Support internal evaluation efforts by contributing field-based insights, engagement data, and partner feedback.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Art History, Cultural Studies, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Management, or Museum Studies.
• 5+ years of experience working in or with art museums or cultural institutions in curatorial,…