Artists: Have You Got the Right Stuff to be an Artist Mentor in the Young Artist Apprenticeship Program?

Part-time Teaching Position: Artist/Program Coordinator
Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of the University of Houston, Young Artist Apprenticeship Program (YAAP)
Dates: September 8-October 16
Times: 4:15-6:15 pm
Student Exhibition, October 25—November 15, 2008

The Young Artist Apprenticeship Program is an intensive, six week art-making workshop offered to 12 high school students from neighboring schools. Two artist mentors teach students to make artworks in a variety of two-and three-dimensional media and design coursework inspired by ideas or media related to museum exhibitions. The Fall YAAP will be held in conjunction with Damaged Romanticism and Celebutantes, Groupies, and Friends: A Photographic Legacy from the Andy Warhol Collection.

The program meets at our classroom (a short walk from Blaffer) on Monday—Thursday, 4:15-6:15 pm. Two Artist Mentors teach and mentor the studio art class jointly and work together with the Education Department to design a diverse curriculum incorporating several types of art-making skills in two and three dimensions. Workshop activities, emphasizing individual in-depth projects, collaborative endeavors, and providing opportunity to use on and off campus resources, build students’ vital artistic, intellectual, and interpersonal skills needed as students prepare for college. YAAP culminates in a student exhibition; scholarships and a school award are given.

Artist Mentor/Program Coordinator: Salary, $1500.

Requirements and Submission Guidelines:
Applicants should be professional artists with advanced degrees (B.A. required, M.F.A. preferred), and teaching experience (preferably with teenagers). Applicants are creative, dynamic individuals who are excellent motivators and communicators. Strong organizational skills and an ability to provide a structured classroom environment are key. Students will complete in-depth studio art projects, so mentors must institute rigorous, step-by-step working processes. To submit, send a cover letter and a resume to: Katherine Veneman, Curator of Education, Blaffer Gallery, The Art Museum of the University of Houston, 120 Fine Arts Building, Houston, Texas 77204-4018; kveneman@uh.edu, 713.743.9526.

Responsibilities:
• Meet with the museum’s education department on a weekly basis
• Act as a mentor to the students, teaching a range of studio art practices and guiding students towards college placement
• Critique and assist students, oversee behavior
• Provide activities inside the exhibition (drawing tours, discussions)
• Maintain classroom (setup, clean up)
• Prior to the workshop, assist in school visits to recruit students; throughout the workshop, serve as contact for teachers, kids, and parents
• Oversee students’ participation, attendance, and transportation to and from class
• Photographically document the workshop
• Oversee classroom security
• Choose winners for scholarships
• Prepare artworks for display and assist in installation of the student exhibition