Scholars Program Coordinator

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: Scholars Program Coordinator

FLSA Classification: Non-exempt

Department: Research, Scholarship and Library

Reports to: Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship

Date Reviewed: May 26, 2026

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.

Through its research programs and services, Crystal Bridges catalyzes the production of new knowledge and understanding, uniting academic research and scholarship with public access and engagement. The Research, Scholarship, and Library team activates communities of learning and provides unequaled access to the museum’s library and archival collections, creating new models for reach and impact in art history, public scholarship, library collection activation, and community engagement.

The Tyson Scholars of American Art program is a residential research and writing-focused fellowship for interdisciplinary scholars expanding the boundaries of investigation into American art from any time period. Now in its fourteenth year, the Tyson Scholars program has supported the research and scholarship of more than ninety fellows through academic-year fellowship awards and the Tyson Think Tank, a short-term collaborative fellowship established in 2021.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship, the Scholars Program Coordinator is responsible for providing administrative support for the management of the Tyson Scholars program at Crystal Bridges and serves as a host and point-person for the scholars during their time in residence. Beginning in 2026, the program will expand and begin to include more public-facing initiatives. With this growth, the Scholars Program Coordinator will assist with and help to develop new protocols for additional facets of the program.

The ideal candidate for this role is highly service- and detail-oriented and possesses creative problem-solving skills. The ability to work proactively and manage multiple and competing priorities is essential.

• Provide administrative support for the application and selection processes for Tyson initiatives
• Serve as on-site liaison for Tyson Scholars, ensuring maximum comfort and community integration
• Manage arrival and departure of fellows by coordinating housing check-ins and orientations, scheduling tours, ensuring the apartment is stocked with essential supplies, and providing other support
• With guidance from the Senior Manager, coordinate and provide logistical support for the Tyson Think Tank and other Tyson Scholar public, academic, and partner programs
• Work in partnership with the Research and Scholarship team and other stakeholders at Crystal Bridges to plan, organize, and facilitate the fellowship program. This includes collaborating cross-departmentally with Development, Art Management, Facilities, People Services, Marketing and Communications, and Learning and Engagement
• Administer Tyson program alumni management software and alumni communications

• Maintain statistics for the Tyson Scholars program
• In collaboration…