CACP: Creative Aging Program Assistant with God...

Massachusetts College of Art and Design; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) invites applications for the CACP: Creative Aging Program Assistant with Goddard House. This student-facing contract role supports Creative Aging Programs, assisting teaching artists and older adult participants in weekly art sessions across partner sites.

The position offers flexible 4–10 hour weekly shifts, paid at $15 per hour, and onboarding with supervision from MassArt staff and Goddard House partners.

Qualifications

• Interest in community arts and aging services.
• Willingness to work with neurodiverse older adults.
• Ability to participate in weekly art-making sessions.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with older adults through weekly art sessions.
• Introduce art projects and support artists with a step-by-step approach.
• Attend team planning and supervisory meetings with teaching artists and practicum students.
• Help plan and install a culminating art exhibition and celebration.
• Contribute to other program activities and events as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Patience

Empathy

Observational skills

Inclusive practices

Job description

CACP: Creative Aging Program Assistant with Goddard House

Department: CACP - Center for Art and Community Partnerships - Academic Affairs

Locations: Boston, MA

Posted: Aug 17, 2026

Closes: Open Until Filled

Type: Contract

Salary Type: Hourly

Salary Range: $15.00 - $15.00

PositionID: 203828

About MassArt:

Founded in 1873, having celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), is the nation's first and only independent, free-standing public college of art and design in the country. MassArt is an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, makers, educators, innovators and leaders striving to shape the future through art and design. We've spent 150 years demonstrating the truly amazing things that happen when a world-class art and design education is an option for every deserving student. Located in Boston's hub of arts and culture along the Avenue of the Arts, MassArt enrolls 2,000 students and offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in 18 disciplines, as well as continuing education and youth programs.

MassArt strives to be a model of diversity and inclusion; the campus community reflects the layers of cultural and self-identity that proudly make up our region, nation, and world. We build effective partnerships with co-workers throughout the College by freely sharing appropriate information and providing assistance to all and maintain an environment that is welcoming to persons of all backgrounds, nationalities, and roles.

Job Description:

Wage: $15/hr | Hours: 4-10/week

Creative Aging Programs - Student Assistantwith Creative Aging Connections, a Goddard House initiative

About the Community Organization:

Founded in 1849, Goddard House is one of the nation's oldest nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving older adults. Our mission is to embrace the aging experience for seniors living in the Boston area by operating a high-quality assisted living community and by creating innovative programs that support our need for purpose, engagement, autonomy, and choice as we age.

Creative Aging Connections (CAC), a Goddard House initiative, is an innovator of inclusive, community-based creative expression programs for under-resourced older adults across Boston - fostering creativity, social connection, and well-being through intergenerational programs led by professional teaching artists. CAC arts programs encompass visual arts, music, dance, ceramics, and other forms of creative expression, fostering self-expression and new friendships.

Through the arts, students help older adults build confidence, express themselves creatively, and foster meaningful social connections. Students will gain an understanding of and commitment to inclusive, strengths-based practices that honor the diverse, cultural, racial, linguistic, and neurocognitive identities and lived experiences of older adults.

Position Description:

This placement is designed as a supervised training experience for students interested in community arts, aging services, and person-centered practices, and intergenerational engagement. Students receive onboarding, mentorship from professional teaching artists, and opportunities to develop skills in facilitating creative expression with diverse older adult populations. Students will have the opportunity to challenge age-related stereotypes and witness the power of creativity to foster purpose, connection, and well-being in later life.

Creative Aging Programs are offered weekly at older adult residential communities, in one or two 3.5-hour shifts in the locations listed above. Student Trainees will participate in a supervised, hands-on learning experience that includes supporting program preparation, facilitating art-making sessions along side teaching artists, and assisting with exhibitions and special events.

Specific Duties include:

• Build relationships with older adults (one-on-one or in small groups) through weekly art-making sessions
• Introduce art projects and support older adult artists with a step-by-step "hands-off" approach so that artists are creating independently
• Attend and participate in team planning and supervisory meetings with teaching artists and other practicum students
• Help to plan and install a culminating art exhibition and celebration
• Contribute to other program activities and special events as needed

Each creative aging team works/trains at one or two older adult residential communities during the week. Each site has 3.5-hour shifts. A full-day or part-day commitment is flexible. This placement will offer students learning opportunities across the spectrum of aging services. Creative aging programs are implemented in small group sessions of 8-10 older adult artists, overseen by a professional teaching artist. Older adult participants are partnered with a trained practicum student. The MassArt student supports the artist with a step-by-step, "hands-off" approach so the artist can create the artwork independently.

Students participate in weekly art-making sessions with the older adult artists in the group for approximately 12 or more weeks per semester. The art-making sessions culminate in a spring gallery exhibition, celebrating the artists' accomplishments while educating the public about the creative capacities of older adults.

Students will receive training and experience in:

• Creative aging principles and practices
• Inclusive and culturally responsive engagement strategies
• Person-centered approaches to working with older adults
• Community-based arts facilitation
• Intergenerational relationship building
• Program planning and exhibition development
• Professional collaboration with teaching artists and community partners

Requirements:

Qualifications Include:

• Key strengths for working with neurodiverse older adults, including those living with dementia, include:
• Appreciation for and willingness to learn inclusive practices that support older adults of diverse cultural, racial, linguistic, and neurocognitive backgrounds
• Respect for older adults' independence and mental capacities
• Empathy and compassion for others who may be in distress
• Keen observer and the ability to learn how to understand and manage situations
• Ability to clearly and easily communicate thoughts, ideas, concerns, and suggestions
• Interpersonal skills that enable you to feel at ease with older adults
• Patience with others who may have difficulty completing a task or with unexpected behavior
• Insights into cultural views that support or discriminate (ageism) towards older adults and the aging process

Support / Supervision:

The MassArt student will always be part of a team in facilitating the art program. The team consists of a lead teaching artist and other practicum students. The MassArt student will receive two days of onboarding training and consistent direct supervision from the teaching artist and will work collaboratively with all members of the team.

Organization Addresses

Placements are available at partner sites, including:

• Mount Pleasant Home (Jamaica Plain), 301 S. Huntington Ave.
• Ruggles Assisted Living (Roxbury), 25 Ruggles St.
• Symphony Plaza East/West (South End), 333 Massachusetts Ave.
• Your weekly schedule can range from 4hrs - 10hrs per week, depending on your availability/preference - a weekly schedule will be discussed upon hiring.
• Paid hours include planning time, contact hours, set-up and clean-up.

Wage:

$15 / hour

PLEASE NOTE:

This position is part of the PartnershipWORKS program offered through MassArt's Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP). If you are hired for this position, you will become a member of the team at your community site AND a member of the CACP student cohort. You will have two supervisors, one through your host site and a second through CACP.

The requirements for holding a PartnershipWORKS position through CACP are:

• Commit to your position for the entire academic year (fall + spring semesters)
• Participate in monthly PartnershipWORKS sessions throughout the year, facilitated by CACP staff
• Complete time sheets in a timely manner, every two weeks
• Provide photo documentation of your work at your host site
• Thoughtful completion of all CACP evaluations
• Maintain communication with CACP staff regarding any challenges and/or successes related to your experience at your host site

Additional Information:

Please note MassArt:

• Does not support employment-based visa sponsorship or non-student exchange visitor visa sponsorship.
• Is not an E-Verify institution.

Selected candidates must be eligible to work in the US at the time of employment, complete all onboarding tasks including a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) background review and provide proof of eligibility to work in the US by completing the Form 19, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

You are required to show proof of your identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of the start of your employment. You will not be authorized to work in any capacity until all paperwork has been completed. For a list of all acceptable documents please click here .

Comprehensive Benefits (does not apply to contractor/student positions):
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Please click here to view MassArt Benefits.

MassArt provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition, or membership in any other legally protected class.

MassArt complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the college operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.