Gerald Leavell II – Cultural Programs Manager
Dallas, Texas ● 214-454-9579 ● [email protected]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Experienced Artist/Arts Education professional with a demonstrated history of working in the museums and institutions industry, skilled in program development, intercultural communication, and an ability to overcome ambiguous situations.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Spanish: Reading, Writing, Speaking
Interdisciplinary Artist
Active Listening and Moderating
Identifying Talent and Resources
Curriculum Development
Coordination and Composition
Visual Thinking Strategies
Systems Evaluation

SELECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Building Brave Spaces: Mobilizing Teen Arts Education, Roundtable moderator, ICA Boston, MA, 2018
$15k Building Beloved Community Fellowship and Mini Grant, Baltimore, MD, 2017/2018
$800 Community Engagement Grant (MICA), Open Works, Baltimore, MD, 2017
Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Community Arts Fellowship, Baltimore, MD, 2016/18
Innovative Cultural Advocacy Fellowship, Caribbean Cultural Center, New York, NY, 2016
Micro-Residency for Artist/Educators, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, 2015
National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Award Finalist, Studio Museum, New York, NY, 2013

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Artistic Director & Arts Integration Specialist, January 2008 – Present
Flex Shift Arts (Part-time),Regional, USA; International
– Direct, coordinate, and facilitate site-specific activities involving creation of art objects, installations, art-related workshops, film and new media presentations for a variety of audiences/participants.
– Moderate panels, round-table discussions and present lectures in college or university programs on arts-integration methodology.
– Monitor customer and community partner preferences to determine focus of efforts.                                                                       – Prepare budgets, and manage material resources and personnel.

Graduate Program Assistant, Master of Arts: Art Education, May 2018 – July 2018
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
– Supported Program Director, faculty members or staff with preparation for the six-weeks low residency program including coordinating studio contracts and addressing maintenance needs.
– Provided students and visiting artist lecturers with assistance in the use of audiovisual equipment, event set-up, and other administrative details.
– Scheduled and maintained regular office hours to meet with students, perform one-to-one studio visits, and support students in mining the MICA graduate community and Baltimore City.
– Served as liaison for critical information from the Graduate Office to directors, faculty, and students.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate Art History, August 2017 – May 2018
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
– Supported “Exhibition Development Seminar” Professor with development of course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments, handouts, field experiences and administrative duties.
– Mentored undergraduate research work for the development of Counter-narratives: Performance and Actions in Public Space, exhibition and public programming.
– Initiated, facilitated, and moderated classroom discussions.
– Selected and obtained materials and supplies such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.

Community Artist-in-Residence, August 2016 – August 2017
AmeriCorps, Open Works Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
– Designed and the inaugural S.T.E.A.M. curriculum and program structure for Teen Makers, an out-of-school-time program for Baltimore Design School students at Open Works Baltimore (Maker Space).
– Taught artistic techniques and concepts using a variety of instructional formats, such as simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or collaborative lectures.
– Assessed shop-training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, specialized technicians, and student participants.
– Guided a cohort of fifteen student artists toward the completion of a multi-media community arts exhibition, After Math, Art!          – Co-conceived and developed SPARK Baltimore Arts & Tech Expo with the Greenmount West Community Association.

Expanding the Walls (ETW) & Youth Programs Coordinator, September 2010 – June 2016
The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY
– Coordinated and conducted activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provided New York City high school students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate contemporary art and society – through photography and new media.
– Managed 30k+ budget, and negotiated contracts with renowned artists as guest facilitators/mentors.
– Planned, evaluated, and revised curricula, course content, course materials, and logic models.
– Prepared participants for exhibition presentations, public appearances, and workshop leadership.
– Supervised ETW interns, teaching artists, and mentored an annual cohort of 15 emerging artists.
– Coordinated student recruitment, registration, and increased male participation by 40-50%.

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts degree – Community Arts, May 2018
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
Bachelor of Arts Degree – International Studies, December 2003
Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA

TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Premier, Adobe Photoshop, Pro Tools, Canvas, Internet, Google Docs, Projector Equipment, OTJ Training, Digital Fabrication, 3D Printing, and Disabilities Access Guidelines