KERNERSVILLE, NC – The Körner’s Folly Foundation and the Town of Kernersville are excited to break ground on the site of the new Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly, located at 411 South Main Street in Kernersville. This site is adjacent to the historic house built in 1880 by visionary artist and designer Jule Gilmer Körner. The resulting Visitors Center will function as a community gathering space, providing improved amenities and increased accessibility for visitors to historic Körner’s Folly while also serving as a beautiful introduction to historic downtown Kernersville.

Over the past decade, increased visitation to the historic house museum, rising demand for educational programming, and the limits of the space currently in use by the Körner’s Folly Foundation’s operations have necessitated investment in a facility expansion. These findings were confirmed by a stakeholder survey conducted in 2017. A new facility will allow the Körner’s Folly Foundation to grow sustainably and serve a wider audience in more meaningful ways, while continuing to support and enhance the organizations, businesses, and individuals that make the Town of Kernersville a great place to live and work.

The Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly will provide the Town with a central point for delivery of tourism information, include rotating exhibition space for historical artifacts, flexible meeting and program space, public restrooms, a media room, increased office space, collections artifact storage, a gift shop, and paved parking for tour buses and cars. The center will allow for more diverse programming and will improve access for persons with disabilities.

Construction on the new building will take approximately 10 months. The Körner’s Folly Foundation anticipates being operational in the new facility within the next year. Winston-Salem-based firm West and Stem Architects PLLC has provided design services, and construction will be completed by Wilson-Covington Construction Company.

The Visitors Center groundbreaking is the result of a capital campaign conducted by the Körner’s Folly Foundation. The Foundation engaged professional campaign consultants,
including CapDev in Winston-Salem. The campaign has been successful in securing funding for the Visitors Center as well as a sustainability fund to support maintenance of the new facility and continued restoration of the 22-room historic house museum.

In 2019, the Town of Kernersville and the Körner’s Folly Foundation established a public-private partnership to enable development of the new Visitors Center. The Town committed funding of $750,000, to be fulfilled contingent upon the Körner’s Folly Foundation raising the remaining funds required to complete construction on the multi-million-dollar project. The State of North Carolina and Forsyth County have also supported this effort.

Funding resulting from the Foundation’s capital campaign was secured in part via grants from local and state foundations, including the BB&T/Truist Foundation, Marion Stedman Covington
Foundation, the Kernersville Foundation, the Lawrence E. & Etta Lea Pope Foundation, the Lib Burns Trust, the Richard & Marie Reynolds Foundation, the Wells Fargo Foundation, the Winston-Salem Foundation, the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, and the Kernersville Historic Preservation Society. Generous gifts from private donors and local businesses also played a significant role in achieving campaign fundraising goals.

As part of the groundbreaking ceremonies, the Körner’s Folly Foundation has announced that the Visitors Center will be named in honor of John and Bobbie Wolfe, hereafter referred to as
the John and Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly. The naming is in honor of the notable impact that the couple has had on the organization through many decades. The Wolfes were one of the families who stepped in to “save” Kӧrner’s Folly from destruction in the 1970’s, and they both have served in many critical volunteer capacities since to ensure the preservation
of the house museum for the enjoyment of the public.

“The vision of the Körner’s Folly Foundation is to be a place of connection between the pastand the future, and to help people connect with one another,” says Körner’s Folly Foundation Executive Director Suzanna Ritz Malliett. “We are thrilled to begin construction on this longawaited project that will help the organization further our strategic goals of widening access and deepening connection to this valuable historical and cultural resource, while also contributing significantly to local economic development.”

The fundraising campaign for the John and Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly continues, with donations supporting programming and operations at the center. Gifts are tax-deductible. More information at www.kornersfolly.org/donate.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Operations & Programs Manager (OPM)
Reports to Körner’s Folly Foundation Executive Director (ED)

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Visitor Services Management

• Promote a positive image of Körner’s Folly and the Körner’s Folly Foundation in all interactions and activities
• Assist ED in developing and implementing policies and receive internal and external feedback to ensure positive visitor experiences and engagement with respect to operations, safety, and accessibility
• Respond to phone, in-person, and email inquiries regarding general information, accessibility, ticketing, recommendations, field trips, education programs, policies, and facility rentals
• Train, observe, and evaluate Visitor Services staff
• Manage the daily operations of the Körner’s Folly Admissions & Gift Shop
• Oversee the secure use of the facility, its equipment and supplies, grounds and parking facilities during regular operations as well as special events
• Communicate with contract services to solve security and maintenance issues

2. Education Coordination

• Provide creative vision and leadership for all Körner’s Folly educational programs
• Develop program, tour, and educational activities that enhance visitor enjoyment and understanding and are aligned with the strategic planning goals of the Körner’s Folly Foundation
• Represent and promote Körner’s Folly to external educational institutions in order to establish a network of useful and productive partnerships
• Conduct historical research to integrate new information into existing interpretation, materials, programming, and events

3. Volunteer Management

• Utilize sound human resource policies to direct and manage all volunteers
• Maintain job descriptions, conduct recruitment activities, hire, evaluate, and dismiss volunteers as needed
• Provide training and maintain a climate that attracts and motivates diverse, qualified volunteers
• Plan and implement volunteer appreciation events and recognition
• Maintain volunteer schedule for public tour hours, private tour requests, educational programs, facility rentals, and special events

4. Collections Management

• Practice sound collections management techniques in alignment with the Körner’s Folly Foundation Collections Policy
• Ensure that weekly, monthly, and annual housekeeping duties are performed
• Train Visitor Services staff and volunteers in safe artifact handling
• Acquire artifacts or collections of interest to Körner’s Folly in accordance with Körner’s Folly Foundation Collections Policy
• Catalogue, document, and inventory collection artifacts
• Conduct historical research on current and potential KFF artifacts
• Display artifacts and interpretive materials in order to provide access to the public for self-guided tours as well as educational programs and events
• Plan, organize, interpret, and present exhibits and lectures for in-person and virtual experiences
• Respond to inquiries from researchers, donors, and the public

5. Marketing and Development Assistance

Assist the ED with various marketing and development programs including, but not limited to the following activities:

• Serve as a spokesperson for Körner’s Folly and/or the Körner’s Folly Foundation when necessary
• Draft materials, articles and press releases for the website, social media, and internal and external publications
• Actively participate in all development activities including solicitations and fundraising events
• Research funding opportunities and draft grant applications
• Promote visibility and general support in the local, regional, and national community

OTHER

Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned or as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The OPM’s work week includes Monday through Friday with occasional nights, weekends and holidays required; Attendance at Körner’s Folly and community events required; Occasional travel and off-site work required for meetings, public speaking, outreach programs, and other related activities.

Work is performed in an office and historic house environment with moderate physical activity, including climbing stairs. Working conditions include moderate exposure to dust, grease, noise, inclement weather, temperature extremes, and unpleasant but not hazardous odors. Occasional exposure to risks controlled by the use of safety precautions. Physical exertion includes exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects, especially during special event setup.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent organization, time management, customer service, public speaking, and writing skills
• Strong understanding of and achievement in museum and/or non-profit fields
• Strong understanding of and achievement in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programming for all ages
• Strong understanding of and achievement in collaborative planning, implementation, and evaluation of community events
• Ability to inspire, lead, and manage staff and volunteers
• Ability to develop and implement long-range plans
• Ability to work well under pressure and work flexible hours
• Knowledge of historical topics related to Victorian-era history and the ability to apply them in an engaging way to the visiting public
• Ability to connect with stakeholders, potential funders, and community groups to foster the support and appreciation of the Körner’s Folly Foundation’s mission
• Proficiency in social media engagement including Facebook and Instagram
• Proficiency in email marketing and communication (iContact or similar)
• Proficiency in POS Systems (Square or similar)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in History, Museum Studies, Museum Education, Arts Administration, or similar degree program (Master’s Preferred)
• 3-5 Years Related Experience
• Reliable Transportation
• Valid Driver’s License
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Hiring Range: $38,000 – $42,000 annually commensurate with experience, plus annual benefits stipend.

The Körner’s Folly Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Interested candidates should submit resume and cover letter to employment@kornersfolly.org no later than March 20, 2023.

Anonymous site visits encouraged.