The Hudgens Center for Art & Learning is seeking an instructor to lead the 2017/18 smART Honors Program. Being the primary point of contact for program participants, the Lead Instructor is ‘the face’ of the smART Program. The ideal candidate will be a practicing professional artist, with an MFA or equivalent background experience in their specified field of study and must be energetic, friendly, creative, and organized. We are seeking a high level artist instructor with college level teaching experience and an active studio practice to serve as a mentor to participating high school students.
The smART Honors Program Lead Instructor is responsible for mentoring and inspiring 16 – 24 high school art students who are nominated by Gwinnett County High School art instructors. The Lead Instructor is responsible for preparing the weekly curriculum and arranging for visiting artists, an off-site field trip and the culminating exhibition. The Lead Instructor reports to the Director of Education, and maintains a relationship with the program donor.
The smART Honors Program will meet from October 2017 through early April 2018 on Saturday mornings from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm throughout the school year with several extended sessions in the spring as students prepare for their culminating exhibition in mid-May.
This is a contract position.
Pay Rate: $160 per weekly class session with additional compensation for pre-planning, extended sessions and reception
NATURE AND SCOPE OF POSITION
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide artistic instruction, constructive feedback, offer solutions and support for 16 – 24 high school youth
- Prepare program curriculum and calendar
- Coordinate volunteers and assistants
- Arrange for substitute instructors when unable to attend; avoid cancellations
- Reinforce accountability through consistent student attendance
- Conduct weekly check-ins with Show & Tell to build community in the classroom
- Engage youth with multiple learning styles and varying artistic ability
- Create project plans, organize projects and facilitate annual student exhibit
- Mentor students in the creation of a large scale collaborative art project
- Provide excellent classroom management skills
- Work with Hudgens staff to evaluate program and provide feedback to strengthen future sessions
- Introduce participation to Metro Atlanta Arts Community through field trips, social media and guest artists
THE PROGRAM
The smART Honors Program is a Community Arts Initiative of the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for Art & Learning, with a goal to make measurable, positive differences in the lives of Gwinnett County high school students through intensive art education. The program provides professional mentorship and hands-on experience to underserved students who have been identified by their teachers to have an interest and passion for art, while also facing financial, linguistic or emotional barriers to advanced art education resources. Over the course of the eight month program, participants learn to craft an artist statement, create a body of work and collaborate on a large scale team project.
While focused on the visual arts, the smART Honors Program strives to enhance participants’ problem solving, critical thinking and creative skills through concentrated engagement in the arts. Social and cognitive skills such as leadership, confidence, discipline and work ethic are engaged through exposure and mastery of new mediums, collaborative projects and a culminating exhibition.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The staff of The Hudgens Center for Art & Learning is highly creative and collaborative and seeks a new Lead Instructor that is passionate and committed to furthering the arts in our community. The smART Honors Program Lead Instructor will become an important part of the Hudgens team and must clearly demonstrate a commitment to community arts programming.
EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND EDUCATION:
Education/Background
MFA or equivalent background experience in their specified field of study; multiple disciplinary instruction is desired
Practicing professional artist (with an active studio practice)
College level teaching experience
Prior experience mentoring teens is a plus
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
- Ability to analyze and solve problems
- Ability to read, understand, follow, and enforce safety procedures
- Ability to foster a cooperative work environment
- Basic computer skills, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel
- Familiarity with various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Knowledge of the Metro Atlanta Arts Community
Special Requirements: May be subject to background investigation.
Candidates who are interested in submitting materials should send their resume and cover letter to cnorman@thehudgens.org with “smART Honors Program Lead Instructor” in the subject line. Application materials will be accepted until the position is filled.
