Public Art Ambassador

Time status and schedule: Part-time; seasonal; on-call

Job Overview

We are seeking people who represent Boston Public Art Triennial’s values of Bold, Open, and Sharp to work as paid Public Art Ambassadors (PAAs). PAAs will work to engage the public in a pop-up public art experience, titled Better Angels, held in various locations across Boston from June to October 2026. PAAs will serve as stewards of the artwork by encouraging visitors to take a moment out of their day and participate in the piece, supporting Better Angels’ Lead Performer, and guiding people through the experience. PAAs are excellent performers, creative, outgoing, friendly, excellent communicators, reliable, and collaborative. 

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Directly supporting the functionality of Better Angels by participating in the piece 

• Setting up and breaking down Better Angels at the start and end of each day it is activated 

• Greeting and engaging visitors in conversation around topics relevant to the artwork

• Assisting visitors, when necessary, with navigating the activation experience 

• Regularly lifting, carrying, and maneuvering materials and equipment weighing up to 30lbs 

• Representing Boston Public Art Triennial as on-the-ground ambassadors 

• Maintaining prompt and professional communication with fellow PAAs and Triennial staff 

About the Artwork

Better Angels, by artist Heather Kapplow, is a participatory public art piece anchored by a sculptural installation. It is composed of a campy array of inflatable clouds and the gates of heaven with a lead performer playing a role inspired by Saint Peter, heaven’s doorman. The project imagines that heaven is close at hand and best accessed by being open and vulnerable about our inspirations and burdens. Through a facilitated engagement at the gates of heaven, visitors reflect on an ideal they strive towards and on what holds them back from achieving it. 

Key Behaviors

Candidates who exhibit the following qualities will thrive in this role:

• Punctual

• Friendly

• Enthusiastic

• Communicative

• Collaborative

• Enjoys being outside

• Excited about performance, public art, and community building

• Must be able to spend 8 hours outside

Qualifications

We encourage applicants 18 years or older of all backgrounds and lived experiences, race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and physical abilities. 

Additional considerations will be given to candidates with some of the following interests and/or skills:

• Experience in people-facing industries (e.g., hospitality, docent, usher)

• Experience in public, social situations that required prolonged interaction or conversation

• Fluency or speaking proficiency in: Spanish, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole

As this will be a highly public-facing and participatory public art experience, all project staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Candidates must possess work authorization that does not require employer sponsorship for a visa. 

Hours + Shifts

Shifts are no more than 8 hours long. Shifts will take place on weekends (Friday–Sunday) between June and October 2026; precise dates for each activation are still to be determined. The Triennial is anticipating a minimum of 4 activations, or pop-ups, across the City of Boston during this exhibition period. Dates, locations, and the number of activations are subject to change as this is a mobile public art project; each PAA should anticipate on-call opportunities to support this activation during the exhibition period and will receive 2 weeks of lead time before each activation. 

Compensation: 

Public Art Ambassadors are paid $23/hour in biweekly installments. 

Hiring Timeline: 

Call-backs and interviews will be held via Zoom from April 27–May 15, 2026. Public Art Ambassadors are required to attend paid training sessions in order to familiarize themselves with the organization, artwork, and rehearse their on-site roles and responsibilities. PAAs will also receive a mandatory 2-hour de-escalation training session, led by the DC Peace Team. PAA training will take place between May 26 - 29, 2026. Additional training and dress rehearsal will occur on-site after the work is installed in June 2026. Exact dates and times to be confirmed. 

How to apply: 

Interested candidates can apply by sending a resume and cover letter to jobs@thetriennial.org. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. The application closes on April 24, 2026. 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to fill out an anonymous Equity Survey. It is entirely separate from your application and is used to help us improve our intentional efforts to seek out excellent and diverse candidates.

About the organization

Boston Public Art Triennial fosters relationships between artists and the public to create art that opens minds, conversations, and spaces across the city. From new public art commissions, to local artist support, to the next citywide triennial, every experience is an invitation to experience Boston differently. 

We are eager to expand our support of local BIPOC and LGBTQIA performers and strongly encourage those who are hungry to center the experiences and representations of those historically suppressed from public art production and consumption. Please see our full commitment to equity here. We look forward to receiving your application!