Call for Artists: Arts and Artists Outdoors Artist-in-Residence Program

Posted by Philadelphia Mural Arts Program on August 15, 2016

CALL FOR ARTISTS
Arts and Artists Outdoors Artist-in-Residence Program
http://www.muralarts.org/program/art-education/a2o/
Deadline: August 19, 2016

Program Description
A2O: Art and Artists Outdoors is a youth-focused artist residency based in Philadelphia recreation centers that celebrates the natural environment of our city. From the food we eat, to the air we breathe, to the ground we walk on, the health of our environment has an impact on us. Each artist-in-residence leads art workshops and creates a public artwork that teaches youth about being stewards of the environment so that the environment can support them, their wellness and their future.

Each artist is assigned to a recreation center, and teaches bi-weekly workshops for young people ages 10-14. The artist designs activities that empower the youth to creatively express themselves and that educate them about an environmental theme. Residency themes are chosen by the artist and can include ideas such as healthy food access, local birds, environmental justice, air pollution, native plants, littering, ecology, and more. Each Artist-in-Residence will be supported in and out of the classroom by an Assistant Teaching Artist.

As part of their residency, each artist creates a final project with the students, installed at the recreation center. The final project is based on the environmental theme and incorporates students’ voices and ideas while also reflecting the artist’s vision and professional creative process. The final project can be permanent or semi-permanent, and is a celebration of the year’s work and learning.

Each A2O Artist-in-Residence leads two 2-hour art workshops for youth per week, for 10 weeks in fall 2016 and 10 weeks in spring 2017. Student art workshops meet Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs 4-6pm according to the rec center’s schedule. A 6-week break between sessions is set aside to reflect on the work of the fall term and turn it into a curriculum for the spring term and the final project. Over the course of the residency the artist also leads four weekend or evening workshops for the wider community. The Assistant Teaching artist assists with teaching, student recruitment, administrative support, and completing the final project.

Mural Arts selects 5 Artists-in-Residence and 5 Assistant Teaching Artists. All of the artists teach in the Fall and Spring, and complete a final project by the end of the Spring session.
Program Schedule

• A2O Orientation: September 8 or 9, 2016
• Fall 2016 session: October 3 through December 9, 2016
• Winter 2017 planning period: Late January through February, 2017
• Spring 2017 session: March 6 through May 12, 2017
• [Dates of the community workshops and final dedication will be determined by both the artist’s and the recreation center’s schedules.]

Artist-In-Residence – Position Description
Qualifications:
– Experience working with and mentoring youth, especially middle-school youth
– Interest or experience working on topics related to the environment
– Strong background in visual arts of any kind, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, fabric/textile arts, ceramics, etc.
– Demonstrated ability to design and complete a medium-scale art project.
– Resides near or in Philadelphia. There is no stipend for transportation.
Artist-In-Residence Responsibilities:

– Lead youth workshops for ages 10-14 twice weekly at recreation center while program is in session (20 weeks total). Each youth workshop is 2 hours long. Schedule is set according to the artist’s and rec center’s schedules.
– Lead 4 community workshops in total, 2 during the Fall session and 2 during the Spring session. Each workshop is 3 hours long. The last Spring workshop also serves as a dedication for the final project.
– Create final artwork by the end of the Spring session to live at the recreation center, including hours outside of workshop time
– Manage an Assistant Teaching Artist.
– Purchase classroom and project supplies ($1000 stipend will be provided).
– Create work plan or curriculum, which outlines goals of weekly classes and workshops.
– Develop project proposal during Winter Planning Session and participate in the Mural Arts Program’s design review process, incorporating feedback as needed.
– Submit 2-5 samples of student artwork to the Mural Arts Exhibition in May 2017.
– Communicate regularly with Program Coordinator
– Attend Program Orientations with Recreation Center staff, Parks and Recreation, and Mural Arts in September 2016 and February 2017 (TBD).
Compensation:
Artists-in-Residence receive a commission fee of $2000 for the research, design and production of the final artwork. Each Artist also receives $25 per hour for up to 120 hours of teaching and classroom prep time. Materials expenses are also covered up to $1000.

Assistant Teaching Artist – Position Description

Qualifications:
– Experience working with and mentoring youth, especially middle-school youth
– Interest or experience working on topics related to the environment
– Strong background in visual arts of any kind, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, fabric/textile arts, ceramics, etc.
– Resides near or in Philadelphia. There is no stipend for transportation.

Assistant responsibilities include:
– Provide support to Artist-In-Residence during bi- weekly youth workshops
– Help with set up and break down for every youth workshop, 30 minutes before and after each class
– Provide support to Artist-In-Residence before, during and after four community workshops
– Assist Recreation Leader with outreach (hand out flyers, talk to local schools or churches, etc.)
– Assist Artist-In-Residence with creating final artwork outside of class time
– Collect class registrations and track attendance of weekly workshops using an online database
– Take photo documentation and update the Mural Arts Tumblr biweekly

Compensation:
Assistants receive $15 per hour for up to 160 hours of work.
Application can be found online at:
http://www.muralarts.org/artist-resources/calls-to-artists/