Joshua Best is switching roles at the Springfield Art Museum, from museum affairs officer for audience development to museum educator. His appointment was announced May 6.
Best originally joined the museum staff as the development and marketing coordinator in 2015. He has been in the audience development role since 2021.
“I’ve strived to place art interpretation, accessibility and inclusion at the core of my work for the museum through engagement events like the 99 Times Party and Art In Bloom and the continuation of the family-friendly Take-Home Project Bags launched during the pandemic,” Best said in a press release. “I’m excited to grow the museum’s impact through direct services to our immediate and surrounding communities.”
Responsibilities include public programs and school tours
As a museum educator and a member of the Springfield Art Museum leadership team, Best will plan and lead the museum’s public programs as well as in-school tours, out-of-school tours and programs like the annual Fifth Grade Field Trips. Best will manage the museum’s volunteer docent corps and along with the museum’s curatorial staff, he will continue mounting the long-standing All School Exhibition.
“Joshua brings experience and expertise as an educator and classroom teacher to this position as well as an extensive knowledge of our community and our museum,” said Nick Nelson, museum director, in a press release. “His passion for and commitment to accessibility and inclusion ensures that as a municipal museum, our programs will welcome and serve diverse audiences. I look forward to Joshua’s leadership in expanding the museum’s education programs in new and exciting directions.”
Experience at the museum includes guest-curating special exhibition
Best has two decades of experience in marketing and advertising, event planning, fundraising, public relations, volunteer management and writing for arts education, social justice nonprofits and cultural institutions. Before joining the Springfield Art Museum, he taught in public school systems in Springfield, Nixa and Columbia.
The Springfield Regional Arts Council honored Best with the 2023 Arts Ambassador Ozzie Award. He is the guest curator of the special exhibition “Breath, Light and Distance,” on view at the Springfield Art Museum through Sept. 1.
Best replaces Jenny Schwartzberg, who left the museum in March 2024. He joins museum educator Lori Gipson, who oversees the museum’s studio art classes, art camps and art-making programs. Kate Francis, the museum affairs officer, will assume audience development, marketing and public relations responsibilities in the interim.
