AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

Performance Artist/Puppeteer

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is seeks a Performance Artist to work with our Education and Exhibits department. The Performance Artist is responsible for creating and presenting imaginative, performance-based programming inspired by the Museum's halls, exhibits and collections. Performance Artists work collaboratively with interpretive staff and the Performance Art Staff to create and present content for the Dinosaur Encounters program, performing as the puppet operator during Dinosaur Encounters shows. Performance Artists work with the Performance Artist Program Manager, Manager of Informal Learning, and other Education staff to create and present performance and movement-based content for the Discovery Center, special events, Museum programs and activities and school groups. Performance Artists interact with Museum guests and are expected to maintain a friendly, approachable and inspiring demeanor at all times.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

§ Performs as a puppet operator inside dinosaur puppet in conjunction with interpretive staff.

§ Acquire knowledge of the Museum, museum programs, cultural and scientific concepts by becoming familiar with the various resources that are available and offered to the Museum's guests.

§ Communicate knowledge through performance and movement based programming for the Museum's guests while on duty and by demonstrating a helpful attitude at all times.

§ Collaborate with Performing Arts Manager, other Performance Artists and interpretive staff to create, develop and maintain movement, performance and puppet based programming.

§ Assist with marketing and sharing the Dinosaur Puppets and other Museum-inspired characters with special groups by working special events, guest engagements, and community relation events as appropriate.

§ Participate in ongoing training sessions to build and maintain a working knowledge of the museum, the displayed collections, special exhibits, informal education techniques, and collaboration techniques.

§ Assist in the preparation, implementation and assessment of the museum's performance-based public programming, as requested, including programs or activities initiated by Education & Exhibits.

§ Assist in the preparation, implementation and assessment of performance based school programming using the Museum's Educational Policy and VAPA standards.

§ Engage museum guests in a variety of interactions, hands-on activities and games throughout the exhibit halls.

§ Maintain optimal physical health with a combination of strength, stretch and cardiovascular exercises appropriate to working with the dinosaur puppets and the creation of Museum-inspired characters.

§ Assist other puppeteers in maintaining the physical health necessary to operate the dinosaurs.

§ Lead workshops for the PA staff on new dinosaur research.

§ Reporting on ongoing research and educational inquiry and practice on selected natural science topics.

This position has the following requirements:

§ 3-5 years as a dancer, actor or performance artist.

§ 3-5 years of physical and movement based training.

§ 1-3 years of theatre training, including improvisation skills and performance development

§ Audition required.

§ Height and lifting requirements based on puppet.

T-REX: 5'10" to 6'0", men's shoe size 8-10, women's shoe size 10-12. Medium athletic build. Must be able to lift and carry 75 lbs on back in upright standing, bending and crouching positions. All weight on shoulders and waist. Extremely hot, claustrophobic full suit puppet with limited sight range.

§ Requires wearing a T-Rex costume with internal mechanisms for movement and sound amplification.

§ Extended periods of standing and bending within costume; holding physically challenging positions for lengthy periods of time.

§ Stilt walking and light gymnastic activity required for some of the museum characters.

§ Work schedule may include weekends and some evenings.

§ Performance Artists must pass a physical examination from a medical doctor provided by the Museum

§ Willingness and ability to learn about dinosaurs and how we find out about when dinosaurs lived, how they moved and behaved to create authentic character studies for the Dinosaur Encounters program.

§ Willingness to assimilate and creatively interpret content from NHM's exhibits, collections and halls, and collaborate with museum interpretive staff and education department policies to create performance based programming.

§ Ability to interact with the public while in costume or out of costume.

§ Experience in education preferred.

§ Completion of a physical is required prior to beginning employment

Salary is commensurate with experience. This is a part time, non-exempt, overtime eligible position.

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until position is filled. Interested candidates please visit www.nhm.org/jobs and click the link of the position for which you are interested or go directly to the online application by clicking https://home.eease.com/recruit2/?id=476135&t=1.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please, No Phone Calls, No Fax.

from LA Culture Net