Deadline to Apply: Month Date, 2022
Status: Independent Contractor (hourly)
Reporting Structure: Reports to Brad Williston, SFUSD Libraries Supervisor
Compensation: $75.00/hour
Estimated Hours: 34 - 102
About SFUSD Middle School Artist-in-Libraries Program
SFUSD’s libraries are lively, un-quiet environments that invite student discovery and exploration. In addition to providing our students with library collections that reflect their interests, we provide opportunities for students to engage in a variety of hands-on experiences. Our librarians encourage our students to tinker, imagine, design, fabricate, collaborate, revise, and refine creations that speak to artistic and problem-driven innovation. To expand our offerings to students, we are seeking to hire teaching artists who will introduce high-quality arts experiences to our existing middle school library programs.
What does an Artist-in-Libraries Program look like?
Our libraries are especially popular at lunchtime, when students come in looking for something to do: many students wander in to hang out with friends, play a game, build with legos or Keva Planks, or peruse graphic novels. Artist-in-Libraries will be scheduled during this lunch period so that small groups of students can drop in and participate in loosely structured arts experiences. We need talented Teaching Artists to design and lead hands-on experiences with a teen audience in mind. We are especially eager to highlight a particular approach, craft, or discipline that students may not encounter in a mainstream visual art class.
Each of the Teaching Artists hired for this program will lead, at one middle school library, six 40-minute experiences over the course of three weeks, with the possible opportunity to extend the length of the residency and/or to repeat the residency at another SFUSD middle school. Given the drop-in nature of this program, it is possible that some students may participate in all six experiences of a residency, while others may join for one or two.
Duties and Responsibilities
Collaborate with SFUSD Libraries Supervisor, Art Education Consultant, and small team of middle school librarians to identify arts experiences that will engage our middle schoolers
With teens in mind, develop a series of engaging arts experiences with low-threshold entry points for learners of all skill levels and arts backgrounds
Propose a list of recommended supplies and materials for arts experiences
Maintain a positive, productive and engaged classroom environment
Attend planning sessions and post-project evaluation meetings
Collaborate with librarians at the following SFUSD Middle Schools: MLK, Willie Brown, and Roosevelt
Each visit would be a 4-hour commitment which includes async planning, on-site prep, check-in with middle school librarian, workshop facilitation, and clean up.
Desired Qualifications
Passion for working with middle school students
Teaching experience with youth ages 11-14; working knowledge of the needs of urban youth
Able to easily build rapport with students in a school setting
Flexible thinking and approach to teaching and learning environments
Experience developing and facilitating arts activities for drop-in workshops
Materials Available for Artist use
For each residency, the librarian has a $1,200 budget to purchase materials.
Artist-in-Libraries Program Timeline
Sept 7, 2022: Call for Artists for SFUSD Artist-in-Libraries Program shared publicly
Sept 16, 2022: Deadline for submissions/intent to Partner
Sept 30, 2022: Artist/Organization selected by SFUSD Libraries
Oct 31, 2022: Intended contract start date
It will take approximately 1 month for the SFUSD Board of Education to approve this contract
Nov 7, 2022: Artist/Organization meets with SFUSD Libraries Supervisor & Arts Education Consultant
Nov 28, 2022: Begin residency week of Nov 28-Dec 12, (6 days total)
Jan 9, 2023: Artist/Organization meets with SFUSD Libraries Supervisor & Arts Education Consultant & librarian team to evaluate residency and explore possibility of additional residencies for Spring semester 2023
How to apply
Email cover letter, resume and links to portfolio or website to [email protected]. Brad Williston will contact artists/organizations by October 7, 2020 for initial interviews.