Art Instructor

The Claraty Arts Project is Hiring Art Instructors! (Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a representative sample of your portfolio.) The Claraty Arts Project is seeking a perceptive, collaborative, and confident art instructor to support the artistic self-expression of adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities (DD/ID). A branch of Mainstream, Inc., we are an arts program, studio and gallery in Santa Cruz. We are committed to the equality and humanity of adults with DD/ID. We are working to support both the growth of their individual adulthoods and their construction of a new, positive, self-defined, group identity for cognitively disabled adults via artistic expression, education and training, production and sales. Through our services, we question the assumptions and low expectations that people with DD/ID often face, and we work to create more respectful, accurate, and individualized ways of seeing and understanding each person. To some extent, we seek to correct the ways that developmentally and intellectually disabled people are commonly seen and treated in our society and within the system of services that seeks to support them. While experience working with people with developmental disabilities is preferred, it is not required. We provide training related to job requirements. To do well in this position, one must come with some understanding that most of us have deeply embedded assumptions about people with DD/ID that dictate our reactions and interactions. Our assumptions are too often formed in the instant of a first impression and quickly cemented by our keen perception and magnification of a handful of differences, blinding us to a hundred internal, external, and existential similarities we share. These mistaken beliefs are prevalent and have resulted in an array of stigmas and stereotypes leading to a dismissive disregard, a devaluing underestimation, and the dehumanization and marginalization of people with DD/ID. We, who work in a service industry for disabilities, certainly contribute to our culture's misconceptions. We portray the people we serve, in our job postings, on our websites, in our fundraisers and promotions, as part of a large, simple, monolithic group with endless needs. Nothing could be further from the truth. The people we serve are funny, fun to be with, fascinating, surprising, eclectic, eccentric, engaging and everything else they can possibly be, not unlike every other distinct and richly diverse group of individuals. You will find the job challenging, but not in the ways you think it will be, and compelling in ways you can't yet imagine.

• Develop and facilitate art curriculum and daily scheduled activities; teach small classes and provide one-on-one instruction to adults with developmental disabilities.
• Monitor and report on the well-being of artists, including maintaining documentation and writing reports as needed.
• Provide continuous supervision of artists, including accompanying them on community outings.
• Respond immediately and appropriately to crisis situations to ensure the safety of everyone at Claraty.
• Participate in the marketing and promotion of artwork, including events and social media.
• Attend interdisciplinary team meetings, staff meetings, and other meetings involving the people served.
• 18 years or older
• Ability to pass a health and tuberculosis screening, per Community Care Licensing requirements.
• Ability to pass an FBI/DOJ-level background check, per Community Care Licensing requirements.
• Willingness to assist with toileting and other personal care tasks.
• Enthusiasm and empathy, a high-level of work energy, a consistently positive attitude, and a diligent work ethic.
• Demonstrated effectiveness as a team player, committed to the values of collaboration.
• Ability to relate to people with diverse backgrounds and personalities in a supportive and positive manner.
• Experience providing art instruction in a structured or educational setting.
• Experience producing, publicizing and displaying artwork.
• Understands new art and communication techniques.
• Understands and is willing to learn more about the contemporary art market.
• Able and eager to see the world through the eyes of others.
• Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm, with occasional evening and/or weekend hours for art shows.
• $23/hour
• Medical, Dental, Life insurance benefits with 30+ hours/week.
• Paid Time Off (accrues at 5% of hours worked), with 30+ hours/week.
• Employer-matched retirement plan after making $5000 or more in any two calendar years.
• 11 paid holidays per year.

Pay:

$23.00 per hour

Work Location:

In person