Teaching Artist, Ceramics, Float at Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
Posted on June 27, 2024
Classification: Part-time regular position (21 hours)
Pay range: $25/hour starting wage
Locations:
● Creativity Explored Studio & Gallery, 3245 16th Street, San Francisco
● Creativity Explored CE2 Studio, 1 Arkansas Street, San Francisco
● Community studios including Art Explosion studio at 2425 17th Street, San Francisco.
Reports to: Director of Programs or Program Manager
Application Review: Starting July 1, 2024
ABOUT CREATIVITY EXPLORED
Creativity Explored (CE) is a studio-based collective in San Francisco that partners with developmentally disabled people to celebrate and nurture the creative potential in all of us. Founded in 1983, CE has facilitated the careers of hundreds of disabled artists and serves as a model in the field of art and disability worldwide.
CE now serves over 130 developmentally disabled artists offering art supplies, training, exhibition, sales and licensing opportunities in traditional and digital media. CE artists have seen their work exhibited in museums, galleries, and art fairs in over 14 countries and have earned over $2 million from their art. CE’s life-changing programs continue to open doors of inclusion to center the personhood and creative vision of people with developmental disabilities. Most importantly, CE is a source of community, empowerment and dignity.
Creativity Explored is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive work environment where diversity is celebrated and valued. BIPOC, people with disabilities, and bilingual/bicultural individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Teaching Artist supports developmentally disabled studio artists as they develop a meaningful arts practice. The Teaching Artist will be a practicing artist who has experience teaching, with the ability to facilitate growth for artists with diverse needs and practices. The ideal candidate will foster reflection and curiosity for CE artists, and will be skilled in developing relationships with artists, fellow teaching artists, and staff in other CE departments.
The Teaching Artist will collaborate with other staff and volunteers to develop and implement a scaffolded art curriculum that meets the needs of artists, while participating as a member of the direct service team. We are looking for expertise in Ceramics in particular.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Led by the Creativity Explored Program Team, Teaching Artists will support CE’s artists by:
● Proceeding from respect for the individual preferences and choices of each studio artist
● Encouraging each studio artist to find their own voice and develop a unique style of artwork.
● Developing strong relationships with artists and helping them in facilitating their art practice.
● Encouraging the development of a deep and focused art practice that meets the artists’ potential
● Working collaboratively on projects across the organization that advance the goals of Creativity Explored
Artist Support
● Assessing artistic skills, establishing goals for each assigned artist and developing teaching strategies to assist each artist in meeting their goals
● Participating actively in teams that develop and implement person centered plans for each artist
● Participating actively in a learning community around person-centered thinking
● Engaging in additional training that helps teaching artists identify and develop skills that support the organization’s goals
Studio Operations
● Attending to all individual studio artists’ needs
● Being able to use specialized equipment like a kiln (ceramics) or woodworking tools.
● Ensuring that studio artists are safely supervised at all times.
● Ensuring all activities are conducted in a safe,prudent manner by following studio policies.
● Maintaining clean, organized and orderly work areas and storage for art works in progress
● Ensuring that all reporting requirements are completed according to established guidelines
Inclusion
● Planning activities and working with artists in community settings (i.e. Art Explosion studio).
● Accompanying studio artists on art-related outings in the community
● Assisting artists with artist talks & presentations of their art work
● Facilitating participation in special projects and public-facing activities such as public art projects, community events, and arts partnerships
Exhibitions, Marketing and Partnerships
● Assisting other staff to select, prepare, exhibit and market studio artists’ work
● Ensuring that all studio artists who wish to present their art work have an opportunity to do so
● Assisting Exhibition and Gallery Coordinators to promote individual studio artists by identifying outside exhibition and sales venues and/ or opportunities, and ensuring that work meets the venue’s presentation standards
Other Duties
● Supporting other departments of Creativity Explored to raise funds for and promote the
organization.
● Regularly participating in collaborative activities that support CE’s plans across departments Examples: professional development, serving on committees, and working with groups to plan organization wide initiatives.
● Contributing to the development and improvement of CE programs
● Performing other reasonably related duties as requested.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
The Teaching Artist is expected to work productively in a team environment and provide leadership as a member of our Studio Program Team and engage with other staff across the organization. They are also expected to work towards embodying the four components of CE’s Staff Philosophy: Community, Creativity, Collaboration, and Compassion.
COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Teaching Artist will comply with established Creativity Explored policies and practices.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
● Post-secondary education in fine arts or other arts related or equivalent experience.
● Creative capacity reflected in personal art making record, portfolio, exhibition history
● Process-based, inquiry-based approach to artmaking
● Growth mindset, with strong ability to collaborate with people across the organization
● Interest in or experience working with people with disabilities in an arts context
● Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively with people with developmental disabilities
● Ability to work in a team-based environment, as well as work independently
● Sound organizational skills
● Bilingual/bicultural a plus
TRAINING & COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
● Complete and maintain CPR, First Aid, and AED certification (initial certification to be completed within 30 days of date of hire)
● Workplace Harassment Training
● Complete Creativity Explored staff training pertinent to position job responsibilities as assigned
OTHER INFORMATION
This position is an ongoing regular, part-time position with daytime M-S hours, with evening and weekend hours on occasion. This position will have 1 set work day working in the studio with additional work days assigned weekly as needed. Specific schedule and number of hours will be determined during the hiring process. The position is eligible to receive benefits as described in Creativity Explored Personnel Policies, including vacation, holiday and sick leave, health, dental and vision insurance, and commuter benefits.
Offers are subject to satisfactory Criminal Records Clearance, proof of Covid Vaccination, and negative TB test results completed within the last 12 months.
APPLICATION
To apply, please submit the following form by 9:00pm July 7th – https://forms.gle/HPCN47cPnr57eoiWA
