Interim Visual Arts Faculty

Cata | Community Access to the Arts (CATA); Great Barrington (MA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement for travel

Paid vacation and sick time

Birthday bonus

Health stipend toward benefits

Professional development funds

Job summary

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) seeks an Interim Visual Arts Faculty member to design and teach workshops for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities across Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY. The role runs February to July 2027 with a 36-hour week, teaching across multiple sites and travel with mileage reimbursement.

Responsibilities include leading group and one-on-one sessions, curating exhibits, and participating in ongoing professional development to advance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or Arts Education or equivalent experience
• At least 3 years of teaching experience in various settings
• Knowledge of painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture, photography, and related visual arts

Responsibilities

• Teach inspiring visual arts workshops for participants with disabilities
• Lead one-on-one adaptive painting sessions
• Support exhibits and events by curating, framing, and installing art
• Mentor CATA artists and assist in guest artist recruitment
• Participate in ongoing professional development and apply learnings

Skills

Teaching experience

Studio practices

Time management

Communication

Empathy & inclusion

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts

Arts Education or equivalent experience

Job description

Make art. Change lives. Join Community Access to the Arts (CATA) as our Interim Visual Arts Faculty this spring!

CATA is seeking a talented, versatile visual artist and teaching artist eager to contribute to an innovative arts organization that is changing the lives of people across our community.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Under the direction of CATA Program Directors, the Interim Visual Arts Faculty designs and teaches visual arts workshops for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, autism, and brain injuries, giving them opportunities to explore painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, photography, sculpture/tactile arts, and more.

Individuals participating in these workshops include people with disabilities across a wide span of ability and ages, including children, teens, adults, and elders. Most CATA workshops are designed for a specific age group, such as high school students with special needs or adults with autism and developmental disabilities. Faculty teach in CATA studios, special education classrooms, day programs, and other partner sites across Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY.

POSITION AT A GLANCE

• Status: Interim, 36 hours per week
• Dates: February 2027 through July 2027 (27 weeks)
• Schedule: Monday through Thursday, 9:00am - 5:30pm (with lunch break), and Fridays, 9:00am - 1:00pm
• Teaching Load: A typical week entails teaching 10-12 workshops, plus meeting and prep time
• Location: CATA studios and partner sites throughout Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY. Local travel is required, with mileage reimbursement.
• Reports To: CATA Program Directors
• Pay: $31.50 per hour ($30,618 total for the 27-week position)
• Future Opportunity: Based on need and availability, there may be an opportunity for a full-time salaried position with benefits

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Teach inspiring workshops: Develop, plan, and teach compelling group workshop series that nurture the creativity of CATA artists in alignment with our strategic goals, using adaptive, inclusive techniques to engage participants across a wide spectrum of ability in painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture/tactile arts, photography, and other visual art forms
• Bring curriculum to life: Integrate learning outcomes developed by Program Directors into curriculum and workshop experiences; tailor workshops in response to the needs and interests of CATA artists; assist in researching and developing adaptive tools; and assess progress toward goals through feedback provided by supervisors, CATA artists, and partners
• Lead one-on-one sessions: Lead one-on-one workshops in adaptive painting for people with disabilities who require a higher level of support in the creation of their work, using adaptive painting techniques tailored to individual needs
• Strengthen partnerships: As a faculty artist working in CATA partner settings, exercise strong listening and communication skills and model CATA's organizational values, including respect for partner staff, leaders, and direct care workers; communicate clearly to supervisors about successes and challenges to support strong relationships with partners
• Bring exhibits and events to life: Support CATA art exhibits and events by helping curate, frame, and install art exhibits and by working with a team to ensure the success of events
• Keep growing: Actively participate in ongoing professional development, trainings, and meetings, and apply learnings to develop your teaching. Openly receive performance feedback from supervisors, and use feedback to drive growth and improvement
• Mentor CATA artists: Mentor and support CATA artists in exploring roles including curating and installing exhibits, assistant teaching workshops, and assisting in public programs; help recruit guest artists including curators and art installers
• Other tasks and responsibilities as assigned

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Arts Education, or a related field, or equivalent life/work experience
• Working visual artist with a minimum of three years teaching experience in a range of settings
• Knowledge and comfort in a broad range of studio practices including but not limited to: painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture/tactile arts, fiber, photography, and more
• Excellent time management and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work within a management structure, reporting to supervisors
• Ability to adapt and modify teaching for people of all abilities and ages, exercising empathy, sensitivity, and inclusion to successfully engage a broad age range of participants from elementary school to elder care
• Ability to successfully engage with people who are diverse by race, class, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, and ability; demonstrate cultural competence and foster inclusion; and commit to deeper learning and professional development in areas including racial and social justice and disability rights
• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel throughout Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY with mileage reimbursement

Preferred:

Previous training in Universal Design for Learning, trauma-informed teaching, and DEI

COMPENSATION

Compensation for this Interim Faculty position is $31.50 per hour for a 36-hour workweek from February through July 2027. For this 27-week position, total payment will be $30,618.

ADDITIONAL PERKS

• Mileage reimbursement for qualifying travel
• Paid vacation and sick time, plus birthday bonus
• A health stipend of $160/month toward your own benefits
• Paid professional development: access to CATA-provided trainings in areas such as trauma-informed teaching and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, plus the opportunity to apply for additional professional development funds
• Invitations to special events and programs
• CATA supplies all materials for programs and workshops, including general art supplies and props for music, dance, and theater. Faculty may also suggest purchases for equipment, per approval by Program Directors
• Active participation in a mission-driven organization with a positive and inclusive work culture and a strong impact on the community
• Opportunity for continued employment and consideration for a full-time salaried position with benefits

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

CATA is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and welcome applicants of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. People with disabilities, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know.