Teaching Artists, Asian Arts Initiative

Posted by on August 05, 2010

Asian Arts Initiative is a multi-disciplinary community-based arts center offering performances, exhibitions, workshops, and training for artists, youth, and adults of all racial backgrounds. Founded in 1993, the organization is in a critical phase of growth, with the development of a new multi-cultural multi-tenant arts facility in Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood, visioning for the expansion of our visual arts program, and planning for the launch of new after-school services at two Philadelphia public schools.

We are seeking experienced teaching artists to teach our after-school programs at Taggart School and South Philadelphia High School starting in the 2010-2011 school year (Sept. 2010 to June 2011).  This new program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funds.

YOUTH ARTS WORKSHOP PROGRAM
Asian Arts Initiative will offer multi-disciplinary arts and cultural activities during the after-school hours for youth attending John H. Taggart School (grades 6-8) and South Philadelphia High School (grades 9-12).  The goal is to serve a total of sixty (60) students at each school.  The programming aims to strengthen cross cultural understanding and support academic achievement and motivation/attendance needs.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Each Teaching Artist will work with a Teaching Assistant to lead a class of 30 students four afternoons per week, Mondays to Thursdays.  Disciplines may focus on video-making and new media, creative writing, poetry, performance, painting, drawing, music and/or movement.  Teaching Artists will work with Asian Arts Initiative to develop the overall curriculum framework and will be responsible for daily lesson plans.

Additional Responsibilities:
•    Paid attendance at an orientation meeting and curriculum planning meetings at Asian Arts Initiative in August, 2010.
•    Paid attendance at a weekly one-hour planning meeting with Asian Arts Initiative staff
•    Submitting brief weekly reports

REQUIREMENTS:
•    Previous experience as a community teaching artist.
•    Previous experience working with urban youth and a strong classroom presence. Experience working in Philadelphia public school context helpful.
•    A criminal record check and PA Child Abuse Clearance must be provided.

SCHEDULE:
•    August – September 2010: curriculum development and planning meetings (approximately 20 hours, exact times TBA)
•    September 13, 2010 – June 17, 2011:  Mondays – Thursdays, at schools 2:45PM to 5:30PM (times subject to change but will be 2.75 hours daily) plus additional 1-hour weekly staff meeting

COMPENSATION:  $20 – 25/hour based upon experience

APPLICATION: Please prepare a cover letter describing your interest and experience, resume and digitally formatted samples of your professional artistic work. Additional samples of projects completed with students preferred but not required. For delivery instructions and updates about status of the position, please visit: http://asianartsinitiative.org/involved/jobs.php

DEADLINE: July 28, 2010 or until positions are filled