Hello.

Since many museum professionals have entered the field in indirect
ways,  I thought participants of this list might be willing to give me
advice on a career decision I will have to make soon.

I have a B.A. in art history and arts education, and I earned my M.A. in
museum studies in May of 1997.  For the past five years, I have worked
multiple part-time and temporary positions in order to stay involved
with the non-profit sector while looking for a permanent job in museum
education.  I have recently moved and have spent the past four months
applying for positions, making contacts, and interviewing.  Meantime, I
have been working temporarily for a corporate foundation.  The position
has given me the opportunity to see funding from the corporate side and
has kept me in touch with the non-profit sector, but my background is in
education - not development.

I am still waiting to hear back about a position in museum education for
which I have interviewed, but the Director of the Foundation has asked
if I would be interested in applying for the position which I am
temporarily filling.  My questions are these:

Has anyone out there entered the museum field from this direction?

Could this be a good way to enter museum consulting?

If hiring for a museum education position, would you see experience with
a coroporate foundation as an asset?

If hired, I would be in the unique position of being able to shape my
job description.  I have considered working directly as a liaison with
non-profits funded by the Foundation and possibly developing an
evaluation component for long-term grants.  What other types of
responsibilities or projects do you think could be carried out in such a
position that would provide the professional development needed to
eventually enter the museum education field?

I appreciate any advice or insights you may have.  Thanks in advance.

Deborah Bain