Working at The Rockwell, Living in Corning

The Rockwell Museum provides a unique and welcoming work environment in the beautifully restored Old City Hall building in downtown Corning of New York’s Finger Lakes Region.

Nestled in scenic upstate New York, Corning is a vibrant community with an attractive historical downtown and home to Corning Incorporated—one of the world’s leading innovators in glass and materials science and the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass. In addition, The Rockwell is within short drives to a number of higher education institutions such as Ithaca College, Cornell University, Corning Community College, Binghamton University and Elmira College.

The staff is a committed, creative, energetic team that continually embraces diversity of thought and backgrounds. We are passionate about advancing our work and our commitment to the community.

In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, staff enjoys access to world-class speakers, community service projects, an employee wellness program, professional development, retirement savings and more. The Rockwell Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Current Employment Opportunities

About The Rockwell Museum, A Smithsonian Affiliate

Buechner Bob & Hertha

Bob and Hertha Rockwell, painting by Thomas Buechner

The Rockwell Museum adheres to standards and best practices as outlined by the American Alliance of Museums and other professional associations, including the Smithsonian Affiliations program, and the Association of  Art Museum Curators.

The Rockwell Museum illuminates the American experience through its expansive collection of American art. It is a space full of creative works that shine a light on stories old and new, telling the nation’s multifaceted story one work of art at a time. This inclusive perspective allows us to reach art lovers of all ages, with an aim to provide a transformative visit that inspires our guests and incorporates their individual story into the museum experience.

The primary Museum is located in Corning’s historic City Hall (111 Cedar Street); the campus includes KIDS ROCKWELL Art Lab (36 E. Market Street), an interactive program and art-making space for families and youth.

The Rockwell is an institution built on community support, from our initial gift collection from Bob and Hertha Rockwell to the generations of patrons, such as Clara S. Peck, who have followed since. Because of their backing, we have continued to grow our collection to create a destination that is continuously evolving. 

The Rockwell Museum’s permanent collection of American art comprises approximately 2,200 items that fall within the broad categories of Native American objects of material culture, American Paintings, Drawings, and Works on Paper (circa 1840-1940), Illustration, Cowboy Artists, Modern and Contemporary Art (post WWII – present day), Sculpture, and Photography.

In alignment with industry best practices, all aspects of The Rockwell’s operations are integrated and focused on meeting our mission statement. Our board of trustees and staff think and act strategically to acquire, develop, and allocate resources to advance the mission of The Rockwell. We engage in on-going and reflective institutional planning that includes the involvement of our audience and community. We establish measures of success and utilize them to evaluate and adjust our activities. 

Annual Reports

Mission               

PrintmakingDemo

The Rockwell is is a strong proponent of arts education and partners with dozens of schools and organizations in the region to provide meaningful arts experiences for all ages

Through compelling exhibitions and imaginative programs, The Rockwell Museum provokes curiosity, engagement and reflection about art and the American experience.

Vision  

The Rockwell Museum embraces an evolving understanding of the history and evolution of America through art – to show how the multifaceted nature of experience can be a source for dialogue and conversation, a force for cultural acceptance and a tool for mutual understanding.

Click for further vision narrative

Organizational Values

As a twenty-first century museum, The Rockwell Museum adheres to the norms of good governance including transparency, ethical stewardship, professionalism, and accountability to our community and stakeholders. The values that express our beliefs and guide our work are…

  • People. The Rockwell centers the individual in its experiences, exhibitions, programming, meetings, and engagements as our visitors, team members, volunteers, board and community are essential to everything we do.
  • ProgressThe Rockwell employs its resources, position and programming as a force for good to improve mutual understanding, heighten empathy in our society, encourage a supportive environment and nurture connections between people.
  • CollaborationThe Rockwell embraces intentional and holistic collaborations and partnerships that strengthen the work of the Museum, enhance experiences and expand the possibilities of a museum focused on social impact.
  • ExperimentationThe Rockwell believes in the power of experimentation, its successes and failures, to further the vision of the organization and deepen the connection to its programs, exhibitions, events and interpretation.
  • ZestThe Rockwell appreciates playful and unexpected approaches to language, design, interpretation, communications and organization which refresh, revitalize and enrich the museum experience.

The Rockwell At-a-Glance

Collections and Space

  • 2200 objects in permanent collection
  • 850 study collection objects and specimens
  • 37,000 total interior square footage of facility
  • 20,000 square feet of exterior space
  • 9,000 square feet of exhibition space
  • 8,000 square feet of offsite collection storage
  • 14 public murals in and around downtown Corning as part of The Rockwell’s Alley Art Project

Associations and Alliances

  • Since 1995, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums LEARN MORE
  • Since 2015, A Smithsonian Affiliate LEARN MORE
  • Founding Member of the Museums West Consortium LEARN MORE
  • Member of the Museum Association of New York  LEARN MORE

Our People

  • 18 full time, 2 part-time staff members
  • 18-member Board of Trustees
  • 24 Volunteers/Docents

About Corning and the Finger Lakes

Located roughly halfway between Manhattan and Toronto, Corning is a culturally diverse city of 12,000 residents. Combining small-town warmth and charm with cosmopolitan flair, Corning is home to the global headquarters of Corning Incorporated, a Fortune 500 company. Corning is located in the southern part of New York’s popular Finger Lakes region and is surrounded by natural beauty with an urban sophistication.

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Regional Population as of 2020 Census: 194,994 residents including three counties within Finger Lakes Wine Country (Steuben 92,948, Chemung 84,148 and Schuyler 17,898).

Rolling hills, breathtaking gorges, and splendid lakes offer countless outdoor activities. Fantastic restaurants, vibrant theaters, and live music abound. You can visit Finger Lake’s award-winning wineries and breweries, swim beneath towering waterfalls, ski and skate throughout the winter, take in the museums and galleries, or just stroll and shop along Market Street in Corning’s Historic Downtown. The Corning-Painted Post school district ranks in the top 20% of the safest schools in all of New York State and in the top 30% of the best schools in the entire state. 

Related Links for Finger Lakes, NY

Corning Museum of Glass – www.cmog.org

Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance – www.fingerlakes.org

Corning Chamber of Commerce – www.corningny.com

Finger Lakes Wine Country – www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com

Steuben County Visitors Bureau – www.corningfingerlakes.com

Corning Incorporated – www.corning.com

Three Rivers Corporation – 3riverscorp.com

Southern Finger Lakes – soflx.com

 

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