Educator, Creative Spaces

The Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Art Institute of Chicago is seeking an Educator to join the Creative Spaces team in the Ryan Learning Center. The role focuses on designing, facilitating, and evaluating artmaking programs, with leadership across shifts in the Art Exchange and support for rotating seasonal projects.

You will collaborate with staff and volunteers to deliver welcoming, inclusive programs for families and multigenerational audiences, while maintaining installations and coordinating resources.

Qualifications

• 2 years’ experience working with students, children, or families; adult professional development; and/or in museums or informal education settings preferred.
• Knowledge of early learning and curriculum design for drop-in, multigenerational programs; understanding of informal education trends and evaluation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, shift priorities, and work as part of a team.
• Experience leading team workflows to ensure timely delivery of projects.
• Familiarity with family-friendly artmaking materials and tools.

Responsibilities

• Acts as Lead facilitator 2-3 shifts per week; back-up facilitator 1-2 shifts per week, in the Art Exchange.
• Contributes to research, concepting, design, and coordination of the Artist Studio, rotating seasonally.
• Co-develops family-friendly artmaking, performances, and engagements for Family Day and large events.
• Supports maintenance and coordination for Ryan Learning Center installations and galleries.
• Oversees daily maintenance, inventory, and supplies for Art Exchange and related spaces.
• Assigns facilitators and volunteers for inventory, prep, and storage for Art Exchange and events.
• Contributes to training and coaching volunteers, interns, and staff.
• Manages supply inventory and orders for materials and cleaning products.
• Leads artmaking engagements during events and programs.
• Provides administrative, coordination, and evaluation support across Creative Spaces.

Skills

Facilitation

Team leadership

Curriculum design

Communication

Organization

Tools

MS Office

Google Suite

Remote work tools

Job description

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.

About the Department

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Learning Center (RLC) is a platform for culturally responsive experiences that bring young people and the adults around them into dynamic and inspiring encounters with art. We celebrate curiosity and creativity, with the conviction that meaningful experiences with art and with the museum enrich people’s lives, connect people to one another, and build confidence and the capacity to imagine, create, and make sense of the world.

With an enduring commitment to equitable access, the Ryan Learning Center team engages children, teens, families, students, and educators through a wide array of programs, partnerships, and resources. These include guided gallery experiences, studio workshops, youth leadership opportunities, festivals and events, neighborhood-based engagements, and professional learning experiences. We serve all museum audiences through our free and accessible public learning space, the Ryan Learning Center. Through these experiences, learners can confidently engage with the museum as a resource, be critical thinkers and imaginative creators, and animate the museum as a place of insight, expression, and community.

By focusing on Chicago learners and centering civic partnerships in our work, the Ryan Learning Center activates and amplifies the museum’s civic role and strategic priorities to serve Chicago audiences; expand our presence within neighborhoods; and cultivate a visitorship that reflects our city.

Position Summary

As part of the Creative Spaces team, the Educator contributes to the design, production, facilitation, and evaluation of artmaking programs and installations in the Ryan Learning Center (RLC) enabling the museum to be creative, welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for families and multigenerational audiences. This role has a special focus on the Art Exchange, the museum’s public hub for learning and creativity for audiences of all ages. The Educator regularly captains the space and supports daily direction of part-time staff, interns, and volunteers. The Educator ensures Creative Spaces programs operate effectively and efficiently by coordinating the resources, spaces, and projects that support program delivery. Additionally, the Educator contributes to the development of programs, like Family Days, and supports the presentation of interactive installations in the RLC.

Responsibilities

• Acts as Lead facilitator 2-3 shifts per week (back-up facilitator 1-2 shifts per week) in the Art Exchange which includes: daily maintenance, opening and closing procedures, cleaning and organizing, providing instruction and guidance for engagements, and supporting the direction of volunteers, part-time staff, and interns.
• Contributes to research, concepting, design, and coordination of the Artist Studio, the primary artmaking project that rotates seasonally and is available to visitors every day in the Art Exchange.
• With the Creative Spaces Senior Educator, co-develops family-friendly artmaking, performance, and engagements for Family Day and other large-scale events.
• Provides assistance, maintenance, and coordination support for Ryan Learning Center creative installations including the Trott Family Gallery, Multisensory Gallery, the McCormick Gallery, and the Art Exchange.
• Oversees daily maintenance including condition checking interactives and coordination of cleaning, repairs, and supply stocking in the Ryan Learning Center's Art Exchange and associated spaces. The Art Institute of Chicago Job Description.
• Assigns facilitators and volunteers to execute inventory, prep, and storage of supplies for the Art Exchange as well as for larger scale onsite and offsite events, as needed.
• Contributes to training and coaching Art Exchange volunteers, interns, and special services staff.
• Manages supply inventory and places orders for new supplies, books, installation materials, and cleaning products as needed.
• Leads artmaking engagements during Creative Spaces events and as needed for on and off site Ryan Learning Center programs.
• Provides administrative, coordination and evaluation support across Creative Spaces programs.

Qualifications

• 2 years’ experience working with students, children, or families; adult professional development; and/or in museums or informal education settings preferred.
• Knowledge of early learning and curriculum design for drop-in, multigenerational programs; an understanding of current informal education trends, assessment, documentation, evaluation, and methods for differentiated learning and instruction; working understanding of children’s developmental levels.
• Previous experience leading team workflows to ensure timely and successful delivery of projects.
• Previous experience with artistic practices, working with artists, designing curriculum, teaching with works of art, and/or developing art-related content.
• Familiarity with a variety of family-friendly artmaking materials and tools.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with audiences of different backgrounds, levels of knowledge, and types of ability. Ability to function effectively as part of a team.
• Strong organization and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, respond to shifting priorities and support multiple aspects of program development and operational sustainability.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and Google Suite required; experience with remote work tools preferred.
• Familiarity with Chicago’s art education community.
• Spanish-language fluency is an asset in this position.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and move throughout the workday, including periods of up to 2-3 hours during peak attendance and program times.
• Occasionally lifts and moves program materials and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds, with rolling carts available as needed.
• With training, operates cutting equipment such as paper cutting guillotines, Xacto knives, and scissors.
• Ability to retrieve and set up materials at heights using ladders, step stools, or assistive equipment.

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

Union

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [e-mail] .

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.