Youth Teaching Artist

The Youth Teaching Artist will lead art-making and educational workshops every Saturday for neurodivergent transition-aged youth in CE's DCYF-funded program, Imaginate YAY! The Youth Teaching Artist will be a practicing arts educator with the skills to facilitate growth for young adult artists with diverse needs and art-making backgrounds. The ideal candidate will foster creativity and curiosity for youth of all abilities.

About Creativity Explored

Creativity Explored is a San Francisco nonprofit that partners with people with developmental disabilities to create an artistic, studio-based collective where the creative capacity of any person can flourish. We do this by placing the work, needs, culture, and experience of artists with developmental disabilities at the center of the community in a way that honors humanity, respects self-agency, and nurtures creative potential. We manage art studio spaces in the Mission and Potrero Hill neighborhoods.

Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job title : Youth Teaching Artist

Classification : Nonexempt, temporary position : 8-16 hrs a week

Contract Start Date : Early January, or as soon as hiring timeline allows

Contract End Date : Friday, June 12th

Benefits : Accrued sick pay

Compensation : $25.00

Location : Principally based at Creativity Explored CE2 Studio (1 Arkansas Street, San Francisco)

Reports to : Youth and Community Programs Manager

Application Review Begins : Friday, January 2nd, 2025

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Creativity Explored is a San Francisco nonprofit that partners with people with developmental disabilities to create an artistic, studio-based collective where the creative capacity of any person can flourish. We do this by placing the work, needs, culture, and experience of artists with developmental disabilities at the center of the community in a way that honors humanity, respects self-agency, and nurtures creative potential.

CE is a warm, fast-paced, and fun place to work, with a long-serving multidisciplinary staff that is deeply committed to our community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Youth Teaching Artist will lead art-making and educational workshops every Saturday for neurodivergent transition-aged youth in CE's DCYF-funded program, Imaginate YAY! The Youth Teaching Artist will be a practicing arts educator with the skills to facilitate growth for young adult artists with diverse needs and art-making backgrounds. The ideal candidate will foster creativity and curiosity for youth of all abilities.

The Youth Teaching Artist will work collaboratively with other Youth Teaching Artists, the Youth Program Associate, the Youth and Community Programs Coordinator, the Youth and Community Programs Manager, and other Creativity Explored administrative and direct service staff.

The Youth Teaching Artist will collaborate with other staff and volunteers to develop and implement a scaffolded art curriculum that meets the needs of young adult artists, while participating as a member of the direct service team. The ideal candidate will have expertise in mediums such as painting, drawing, print-making, ceramics, or digital art.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Approach all youth and young adult artists with respect for their individual preferences, communication styles, and creative choices.
• Encourage each youth artist to discover their own voice and develop a unique artistic style.
• Build strong, supportive relationships with youth artists and guide them in deepening their art practice.
• Create an arts curriculum that introduces young adult artists to new mediums and new ways of working with materials.
• Implement and continuously refine curriculum to meet evolving interests, abilities, and goals of participating youth.
• Support youth artists in developing new skills, including growth mindset, self-efficacy, social awareness, and positive relationship-building.
• Assess artistic skills, help youth artists set goals, and develop teaching strategies that support their progress.
• Participate actively in a learning community grounded in person-centered thinking.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to strengthen teaching skills aligned with organizational goals.
• Assist staff with selecting, preparing, and exhibiting youth artwork in culminating showcases and exhibitions.
• Ensure that all youth artists who want to share their work have the support and opportunity to do so.

Organizational Relationships

The Youth Teaching Artist is expected to work productively in a team environment and to foster open communication with staff across the organization to produce communications that support the organization's mission and goals. 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 Youth Teaching Artist will comply with established Creativity Explored policies and practices.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

OTHER INFORMATION

The Teaching Artist position is a contract, nonexempt, temporary position with a contract end date of June 12th, 2026. The schedule will consist of 1 set work day working in the CEII studio on Saturdays, with additional work days assigned as needed by CE. The position receives accrued sick leave time.

Creativity Explored requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon hire. Offers are subject to satisfactory Criminal Records Clearance and proof of negative TB test results completed within the last year. Creativity Explored will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Creativity Explored is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage.

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.

Salary

$25 - $25 per hour