Arts And Social Impact Educator, Oda Japan Program

ARTS AND SOCIAL IMPACT EDUCATOR, ODA JAPAN PROGRAM

Description

Boston Children’s Museum is seeking a bilingual candidate with fluency in English and Japanese (verbal and written) to serve an exciting role in our Arts & Social Impact team.

The Arts & Social Impact (ASI) Educator, Oda Japan Program is responsible for supporting and delivering artistic explorations and cultural experiences for all Museum audiences. Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Arts & Social Impact, the Educator will work in close collaboration with the Arts & Social Impact (ASI) Manager, Oda Japan Program to support the Japan Program and the historic Japanese House exhibit.

The Educator will contribute to the interpretation of this unique exhibit, creating immersive, educational and inclusive learning opportunities for visitors, staff, and external stakeholders to engage with Japanese culture and traditions. In addition, the Educator will support the staffing needs, maintenance, and preservation efforts of the Japanese House, ensuring its continued integrity as an educational and cultural resource.

In addition to exhibit interpretation, the Educator will facilitate programs for children, families, school groups, educators, and community organizations—both within the Museum and through outreach efforts in the community. Program development may include developing hands-on activities, workshops, performances, school programs, curricular materials, and community collaborations. The Educator will also support the Arts & Social Impact Manager, Oda Japan Program in curating the Japanese House Gallery, a space dedicated to sharing stories of Japan through youth-created art.

The ASI Educator, Oda Japan Program will coordinate their work with team priorities and Museum-wide initiatives, ensuring programs align with the Museum’s Learning Framework, which emphasizes learning through play and exploration. Responsibilities will also include maintaining the quality and authenticity of Japan experiences for staff and visitors engaging with the exhibit, and assisting with Museum-wide events such as school vacation weeks or festivals.

The Educator should have strong experience working with children from birth to age 10, a deep understanding of informal learning environments, along with expertise and a passion for sharing Japanese history and culture with an authentic, inclusive-minded and culturally responsible approach. They should also have experience collaborating with internal teams and external partners, including community organizations, cultural institutions, and schools, to foster meaningful connections that enhance visitor experiences.

About the Oda Japan Program

The Oda Japan Program at Boston Children’s Museum is forward-thinking in global and cultural learning. Through the Japanese House exhibit, it represents the arts and traditions of Kyoto and other regions of Japan. The exhibit features an authentic 1800s house from Kyoto along with various collections and programs. This position oversees and guides the vision for the Japanese House and its programs, ensuring cultural accuracy and integrity through comprehensive research, preservation, translation, engaging community partners and volunteers, and interpretation efforts.

The Endowment Fund, established in 1985 to support the Japan Program and Japanese House exhibit at the Boston Children's Museum, was founded through the dedicated efforts of former Museum Honorable Trustee, Yori Oda ). Working alongside campaign advisors Hiroshi Matsumoto and Michael Spock (then-Museum President), Yori Oda successfully led the fundraising efforts. A significant portion of the contributions came from friends and associates of her late father, Mr.

Sadanobu Oda, a senior member of the Bank of Japan and a respected figure in the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations. In recognition of his legacy, Yori and the Museum named the endowment in his honor. The official announcement of the endowment was made at the Shukuten 10th Anniversary celebration of the Japanese House exhibit in 1990.

Responsibilities

Programs, Exhibit Interpretation and Preservation, Community Engagement

In collaboration with…