Springfield Art Museum promotes from within for educator role

provided by Springfield Art Museum

Joshua Best is promoted to museum educator.

The Springfield Art Museum has promoted a more than 8-year employee to a recently vacated role.

Joshua Best has been named museum educator, effective this month, according to a news release. Best most recently served as museum affairs officer over audience development after starting as development and marketing coordinator in 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.

As museum educator and a member of the Springfield Art Museum leadership team, Best will oversee public programs such as in-school and out-of-school tours, the All School Exhibition exhibit and volunteers.

“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," Springfield Art Museum Director Nick Nelson said in the release. "His passion for and commitment to accessibility and inclusion ensures that as a municipal museum, our programs welcome and serve diverse audiences. I look forward to Joshua’s leadership in expanding the museum’s education programs in new and exciting directions.”

In the museum educator role, Best succeeds Jenny Schwartzberg, who exited the organization in March. Schwartzberg's LinkedIn profile indicates she is now serving as curriculum content specialist for the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after nearly three years with the Springfield Art Museum.

With two decades of experience in marketing and advertising, fundraising, public relations and other sectors, Best also has served as an educator in Nixa, Springfield and Columbia. He received the 2023 Arts Ambassador Ozzie Award from the Springfield Regional Arts Council.

“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 the release. "I’m excited to grow the museum’s impact through direct services to our immediate and surrounding communities.”

Best joins Museum Educator Lori Gipson, who oversees the museum's studio art classes, art camps and art-making programs. Museum Affairs Officer Kate Francis is taking over audience development, marketing and public relations responsibilities on an interim basis.