Job Title: Community Art Collaborative (CAC) AmeriCorps member
Number of Openings: 12
Work Schedule: Full-time, five days a week
Hours per week: 35-40
Salary Type: Stipend
Wage/Salary: $13,732 for the year, with additional benefits
Employment Start Date: August 27, 2018
Job Description
The Community Art Collaborative (CAC) is a community arts-focused AmeriCorps program. Hosted at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) since 2004, CAC is grant funded from the Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. In the CAC program, AmeriCorps members are matched with non-profit community organizations around Baltimore City to serve year-long (September - August) community arts residencies. In these residencies, members primarily facilitate after-school arts-based learning experiences that serve K-12 students in Baltimore. Members also have the opportunity to facilitate art-making opportunities for community residents, recruit and manage volunteers, develop special projects, and gain valuable professional experience in the community arts and non-profit fields.
The CAC program is based MICA’s Office of Community Engagement, and is part of a larger National Service network of AmeriCorps programs throughout the country. The program offers many benefits, including a living stipend, free healthcare, and a federal Education Award (of around $5,900) that is given at the end of one year of service in the program, which can be used for pursuing future education opportunities.
CAC also serves as the "Community Arts Residency" for graduate students in the MFA Community Arts program, to provide in-the-field experience during their graduate studies. Though, you do not need to be a graduate student to apply!
The CAC group has space for 12 members every year, and usually about half are graduate students, and half are emerging artists doing the program full-time. Please check out our website to learn more about the program, and feel free to reach out with any questions! Website: http://www.mica.edu/cac
Qualifications
● Teaching Experience - At least one year of experience in either teaching youth (K-12 students) or working on community projects that incorporate youth.
● Experience in volunteer service projects and/or community organizing is a major plus!
● Excellent communication skills - verbal, written, and in general - an ability to stay in communication with the program throughout the year.
● Solid writing skills, for writing lesson plans, monthly report reflections, and potential grants.
● Organizational and time management skills, attention to detail, and strong work ethic.
● Proficient in data and information management.
● Ability to be a strong team player.
Benefits
A living allowance of $13,700 for the year (Paid in bi-weekly amounts from MICA)
Free health coverage (through a special AmeriCorps healthcare plan with Cigna). This includes: medical, dental and vision.
Child care benefits. (Partial reimbursement for childcare costs)
A federal Education Award of $5,920 upon successful completion of your service, which can be used to pay eligible student loans or other eligible educational expenses. (For more info, please see this website about the Segal Education Award)
Deferment of eligible student loans while you are in service, and repayment of the interest that accrues while they are in deferment.
Ongoing professional development training in curriculum development, classroom management, grant writing, community organizing, and much more!
Access to tons of valuable resources at MICA, including: Downloading free software (Adobe Creative Suite & Microsoft Office), access to resources at the MICA Decker Library, and access to rental technology equipment at the MICA Tech Center (rental cameras, video cameras, projectors, lighting kits, etc).
Valuable work experience that can help propel your career forward after AmeriCorps.
Access to the citywide and national AmeriCorps network for future opportunities and general networking.
Being part of a cohort team of community arts colleagues that you can collaborate with and learn from.
The option of staying on for a second year of the program, to further develop projects and relationships at your CAC Host Site.
How to Apply
Applications are due May 15, 2018
Part 1: Resume and Cover Letter
In your cover, please describe why you are specifically interested in CAC, and why you would like to be teaching art to youth in community settings, and developing community projects.
Part 2: Digital Portfolio
- 6-10 images of your art work, community art projects, teaching samples, and/or supplementary photographs.
- Please include captions for each photo/image.
- Please submit all the images as one PDF only! (Don't forget to include your name in the PDF.)
Part 3: Two References We Can Contact / Letters of Support
- 1-2 Letters of support.
- Please include at least one professional or work related reference.
Part 4: Submission
Please send all required materials (Resume, Cover Letter, Application, Portfolio, and Reference Letter) in one email to [email protected] with the subject line "CAC 2017-18 Application: Your Name." Finalists will be notified in mid to late June.
