Summer Lead Teaching Artist

The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program unites artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. Since its inception in 1984, Mural Arts has created more than 4,000 community driven murals and provided thousands of under-served youth and adults with award-winning arts education programming.

The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program’s Art Education Department serves over 2000 youth annually through free out-of-school time art education programs in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.  Our programs provide a creative outlet for some of the city’s most vulnerable youth.

Mural Arts seeks to build safe spaces with and for the youth we serve, and our students' work demonstrates their capacity for thinking deeply and creating fearlessly.  Our programs provide young people between the ages of 10 and 22 a year-long course of study in the visual arts. Our curriculum offers students the technical and creative foundation necessary to imagine, design, and create a wide range of individual and public works of art. Whether creating a mural or honing foundational art skills, lessons are designed with both short and long-term goals in mind, incorporating artistic and social history in addition to traditional and emerging art processes. At every turn we encourage our students to reflect on themselves and make a positive difference in the communities in which they work and play.

The Art Education Department is seeking summer employees for our six week summer session with a week of included professional development beginning on June 17 and running through August 16.

In order to best serve the varied needs of our students, the Mural Arts Program’s Art Education Department seeks passionate and creative art educators who are committed to working in partnership with young people. We seek individuals who are excited about mentoring youth, eager to collaborate with fellow artists, and able to work in an energetic environment that demands flexibility, dedication, innovation, and enthusiasm.

Lead Teaching Artist Positions

Lead teaching artists work closely with Art Education staff to develop a project-based curriculum.  They inspire and guide students in creating individual works of art, designing murals, experimenting with different media, and working alongside professional artists on large scale public art projects.  In addition to maintaining a classroom blog and attendance records as required by Mural Arts and its funders, they mentor an assistant teaching artist. The position requires attendance at meetings and workshops, reliable transportation and professional development.  Mural-making experience is preferred but not required.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of art history and art-making techniques;

Ability to manage a classroom of 15-30 students;

Significant experience working with under-served youth and/or middle and/or high school students and adapting to students with learning disabilities and English second language;

Ability to engage youth with multiple learning styles and multiple intelligences;

Ability to create lesson plans, organize projects, and conduct research;

Excellent classroom management skills;

Exceptional written and oral communication skills necessary for managing paperwork and ongoing communications between program sites and Mural Arts staff;

Willingness to work collaboratively and in partnership with parents, program managers, Work Ready Coordinator, student advocates, and artists;

Access to reliable transportation;

Familiarity with Photoshop and social media a plus;

Requirements

Preferably 3-5 years of experience teaching art to youth in middle and/or high school

Ability to work in multiple settings with respect and humility, ie: Non-English dominant spaces, Queer and LGBTQ spaces, cultural and spiritual spaces and navigating gender assigned spaces.

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Updated Child Abuse clearance, Criminal Background check, and FBI Clearance

Flexible daytime availability

Compensation: Hourly Rate $25.00 for 25 hours per week.

The work of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is made possible through the generous support of committed individuals and institutions.