Joanna Seifter

Experiences

Professional

Writer/contributor to the Brooklyn Rail - ArtSeen and Film - April 2023 – present Writer/contributor to Tussle Magazine - Exhibition Reviews - March 2023 – present

  • Essays and criticism about art, artists and film

Data Collector and Researcher at HG&Co - July 2022 - present

  • Facilitated tests of multiple phases of the American Museum of Natural History’s redesigned maps; conducted the visitors’ exit interviews
  • Assessed the National Museum of the American Indian’s brand, impact and marketing strategies by conducting extensive exit interviews for Shelley Niro: 500 Year Itch
  • Assessed the National Archives' brand, impact and communication strategies by conducting extensive exit interviews with visitors of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
  • Researched the impacts of augmented reality museum programming for La Brea Tar Pits’ AR review
  • Contributed research to Kate Haley Goldman and Madeleine Pope’s paper “XR in Museums: A Review of the Current State of the Field”

Museum workshop designer/leader at Creating Futures that Work – October 2024 - present

  • Designs museum workshops for business professionals, non-profit leaders, board members and executive coaches, using visual arts to develop observational skills.
  • Led programs at major museums including Voyage of Discovery at the Whitney Museum (NY), and The Art of Future Ready Leadership (High Museum, Atlanta).

Member, NYC Museum Educators Roundtable Conference Planning Committee (NYCMER) - September 2023 -present

  • Writes RFP’s, evaluates and participates in the selection of proposals for conferences, develops conference schedules, composes email blasts and provides onsite support.

Teaching/Educational Administration

Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion - August 2022 - present

  • Assistant to Rabbi Dr. Lisa Grant (Director of the Rabbinic School), Cantor Jill Abramson (Director of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music) and Rabbi Rachel Gross-Prinz (Dean of Student Life); supports Meredeth Kelly, Director of Operations
  • Organizes departmental meetings; plans luncheons, lectures and recitals; schedules music lessons and singing exams
    • Member of Kallah (annual student retreat) Planning Committee; oversees interstate travel, lodging and program coordination
  • Manages and disseminates weekly campus newsletters; facilitates communication between campuses in NY, Cincinnati, LA and Jerusalem; assembles course offerings for Registrar’s office
  • Prepares letters of agreement and payment authorization forms to initiate payment for professors and guest lecturers, issues reimbursements and balances departmental budgets

Katharine Ordway Natural History Study Center - September - December 2019

  • Outdoor environmental educator, taught monthly science classes for children 5-10

Minnesota Children’s Museum, Minneapolis - January - May 2019

  • Facilitated studio activities for children and adults to encourage exploration of materials and experiences including sensory cupboards, Ozobots and drawing
  • Created/installed new programming including zine rack, reference binder, prompt booklet, and artist of the month
  • Trained museum volunteers in audience engagement

Breakthrough, Miami - June - August 2018

  • Taught English Literature and an art extracurricular to high performing eighth grade students at a two-month summer academic enrichment program

Urban Arts Academy, Minneapolis - January - May 2018

  • Assisted art teachers and supported elementary and middle school students with classroom art projects in a nonprofit afterschool program.

Riverview West Side School of Excellence - September - December 2017

  • Mentored and supported a student in creating her own superhero story and costume as part of a non-profit teaching artist program in residence at a charter elementary school.

Dedalus Foundation, Brooklyn – Teaching Artist Assistant – June – August 2017

  • Assisted teaching artists in a summer program to help middle school students develop their portfolios and prepare to audition for specialized New York City high schools.

Macalester College - January 2017 - March 2020

  • Lead tours for prospective students and their parents for Macalester’s Admissions Department

Internships

Franklin Furnace Archive, NYC - July - December 2021

  • Designed accessible exhibition interactives (including QR codes, audio files and easily accessible digital components)
  • Wrote and edited didactics for Franklin Furnace’s Flue and Historias installations
  • Assembled weekly newsletters “Goings On” and “Goings On For Artists;” mentored and trained future intern for this project

Pollock-Krasner Foundation - May 2018 – August 2019

  • Led tours of Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner’s shared home and barn studio discussing their art, contextualizing the Abstract Expressionist movement and answering questions
  • Welcomed visitors at the House’s front desk
  • Wrote artist biographies and object didactics, compiled outreach databases and updated the Foundation’s Past/Perfect archives

Revere Auctions, Minneapolis - January - March 2020

  • Wrote labels, organized objects, contributed to archives and assembled collections for auctions.

Van der Plas Gallery, NYC - June - August 2019

  • Greeted visitors, answered potential buyers’ questions, and directed viewers through the gallery; supported and photographed opening events
  • Recruited emerging and established artists for exhibitions, including Summer Salon and Blue, Yellow, Red
  • Installed works and managed social media (including writing copy for Instagram, Twitter and Facebook posts, and designing social media banners on Canva) for exhibitions Between Reflection and the Shadow and Blue, Yellow, Red

Dr. Bernard Heller Museum, NYC - June - August 2019

  • Wrote object labels and installed exhibition Relative Relations and de-installed previous exhibition TERRA inFIRMA
  • Re-organized and cataloged art and artifacts from the Museum’s archives
  • Handled communications with artists participating in exhibitions including updating contact information, requesting presentation feedback, finalizing object distribution and pickup

Miscellaneous

Artwork featured in "Co-Crafting Democracy: Fiber Arts and Activism" exhibition at the Women's Hall of Fame -July 2024

Threesis Advisor to the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences – April 2023 - present

Visual Resource Librarian at Macalester College - January 2019 - March 2020

  • Scanned, edited and distributed high resolution images and texts for Macalester’s Art and Art History students and faculty
  • Completed data entry, updated archives and researched objects in Macalester’s collection, including students’ artwork and a series of informational slides; created PowerPoint presentations for professors