Company Description

ArtWorks for Milwaukee’s mission is strengthening Milwaukee’s workforce through arts internships that help teens develop career skills.

In a city working to overcome generations of trauma, poverty, high unemployment, and segregation, Milwaukee youth deserve our attention. ArtWorks provides high school students with paid and unpaid internships in the arts. These internships include mentorship from professional artists, creative independent and collaborative projects, engagement with community issues, one-on-one learning, and exposure to workforce skills. ArtWorks aims to make its programs inclusive of all students and does not require that participants have arts experience, but it's likely that some will have skills in art-making due to the scope of ArtWorks' programs.

ArtWorks has a three-tiered structure, beginning with an introductory unpaid internship, followed by an intermediate paid internship, and ending with a paid entrepreneurship internship. Every ArtWorks internship is designed to help teens develop the 21st century skills, transferable job skills that are critical to today’s working world. Each internship also includes reflection, self-evaluation, and formal feedback to measure the interns’ understanding, demonstration, and application of 21st century skills.

Job Description

Job Summary

ArtWorks for Milwaukee is seeking lead teaching artists for its Fall 2019, Spring 2020, and Summer 2020 programs. Lead artists play a critical role in the facilitation, execution, and overall success of the organization’s programs. Programs run between eight and 14 weeks, combining art-making and professional development with an objective to prepare teenagers for their future. The programs will implement art projects to introduce a group of eight to 12 participants to 21st century job skills.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Implement ArtWorks’ curriculum and make modifications where necessary during programming
• Support social emotional learning (SEL) through arts and workforce readiness instruction
• Maintain consistent focus on 21st century skills throughout program sessions
• Supervise participants, managing behaviors with empathy
• Act as a positive role model and mentor to all participants
• Provide group as well as one-on-one instruction
• Establish a safe learning and social environment for all students and site staff
• Guide students through projects while also allowing independent decision-making
• Communicate effectively with program staff and interns throughout programming
• Document successes and challenges after each session for program staff’s review
• Provide feedback and evaluations to interns to maximize individual success
• Submit attendance and other required paperwork to program staff in a timely manner
• Attend all lead artist trainings, meetings, and program sessions
• Adhere to policies and guidelines of ArtWorks and program site
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Highly skilled in visual arts media
• At least one year teaching, facilitating, or mentoring experience in a similar role
• At least one year working with youth
• Cultural competency to work well with all communities and individuals
• Communicate effectively with program and site staff
• Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision
• Flexibility and multitasking skills
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills while working on a team
• Effective time management
• High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of social emotional learning (SEL)
• Experience working with youth who have experienced trauma
• Experience working with youth with physical, mental, or neurological disabilities
• Experience creating lesson plans or curricula
• Business-minded, knowledge of and/or experience with entrepreneurship and business administration
• Interest in social justice and social change initiatives
• Access to reliable transportation - this position involves occasional errands, community events, etc.

Schedule

• Programming runs after school (between 3pm and 7pm) during the school year (September - May). Programming runs during the day (between 10am and 3pm) in the summer months (June - August).
• Position includes hours outside of programming for lesson planning and program preparation.

Additional Information

Please apply at the following link: https://artworks.formstack.com/forms/lead_artist_application

ArtWorks is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.