Craft Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating and inspiring creativity through contemporary craft. As one of the country’s premier craft organizations, we are uniquely positioned in the region to offer classes in craft techniques, community programs, exhibitions, and a shop. Our facilities include studios for ceramics, metals, fibers, glass, wood, print and papermaking, and artists-in-residence. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Position Summary:
Craft Alliance seeks fibers/textiles artists, jewelry, metalworking, and woodworking mentors for Crafting-A-Future, a portfolio-building program for arts-interested teens. Mentors design a 9-week course curriculum with a co-teacher and Community Programs Manager to transfer craft skills and professional knowledge to students in one of this year’s studios. Your students will train in your studio, then rotate to their next studio for you to teach a similar workshop to the next set of students.. Our goal is to help them create works that show growth in their portfolio each year they’ve invested in the program, eventually helping them pursue post-secondary arts education or a career in an arts-related field.
Crafting-A-Future utilizes the studio workshops at Craft Alliance on Delmar for a total of 39 weeks (minus holidays, breaks, and visiting artist-led workshops). The program starts in September and ends with an exhibition of the year’s works on May 4th, 2024. Classes run from 12-5 pm on Saturdays, from Sept. 9, 2023-May 4th, 2023, with exhibition installation on May 4th and deinstall of the exhibition on May 25th.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with co-mentor and Community Programs Manager to Design a craft skill workshop for high school-aged youth.
- Collaborate with mentors in other studios for better lesson plans
- Make use of our featured exhibitions with students during class breaks..
- Work closely with students to transfer creative problem-solving skills.
- Work with visiting guest artists during their workshops.
- Prepare students to showcase their work both physically (e.g.exhibition) and digitally (e.g.their digital portfolios, online presence)
- Fulfill the number of hours/classes per specific teaching agreement.
- Grading of projects as needed by partners for curriculum.
- Support program evaluation.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements and Competencies:
- Experience as an art instructor, especially for middle and high school-aged groups.
- Experience creating a collaborative, safe atmosphere for art creation.
- Excellent oral, written, presentation, and teaching skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with Craft Alliance and partner administration as needed.
- Ability to work with groups of 8-10 youth.
- Patience and ability to creatively problem solve in class.
- Ability to install art pieces, whether hung, painted, or installed in other ways.
- Experience with youth in communities with historically underserved populations.
- Ability to problem solve and reason.
- Experience with coming up with creative solutions.
- Must be available during weekends (Saturdays 12-5)
- Must pass a background check.
To Apply:
Please email your Resume, Cover Letter, and Professional references (3) to [email protected] with the subject line: “Application for Crafting a Future Mentor Artist.” Include the names and organizations of your references, as well as your relationship with them. Please include your experience teaching art to groups.
We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you do not meet 100% of the requirements listed above or have a non-traditional background, we encourage you to apply if you share our passion for craft and believe you could be an asset to our team. If you would like to discuss the requirements for this role or need accommodations to support your application, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
For more information about Craft Alliance, visit our website at www.craftalliance.org. Craft Alliance is located at 5080 Delmar Blvd in St. Louis, MO.
Craft Alliance provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.