Studio Facilitator: Coordinator

Apply online here (website/portfolio of studio practice required).

Arts of Life, a 501C3 nonprofit, advances the creative arts community by providing artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities a collective space to expand their practice and strengthen their leadership. Founded in 2000, Arts of Life is realizing its vision of a professional, person-centric, artistic community that provides a work environment of equality. Today, we represent over 60 artists working in one of our two locations, in their homes, or through creative partnerships in the broader Metro-Chicago area.

The Opportunity

Studio Facilitators work one-on-one with Arts of Life artists to ensure that they are active members of the Arts of Life community by supporting them in the development of their creative practice, art material facilitation, and the implementation of their professional development plans. As needed and in collaboration with other staff, this position also aids with artists’ personal care, including toileting and mealtime assistance. The Coordinator is responsible for implementing Arts of Life’s (AofL) model and values by developing and implementing the studio community’s daily schedule. This includes supporting artists, interns & volunteers, programming, and operational support.

The Role

• AofL Culture: Develop a strong sense of belonging that emphasizes radical vulnerability and candor and promotes transparency and collaboration throughout your program.
• Artist Leadership: Ensure artists are key contributors to your program’s development by providing leadership opportunities and including them in critical relationships and decisions.
• Personal Care Support: Assist artists of all genders who require personal care in the restroom, appropriately report any medical issues observed, and ensure that the bathroom(s) remain sanitary, organized, and inviting. Support artists who need assistance eating and ensure that food items are appropriate for each individual’s dietary needs.
• Artistic Mentorship: Facilitate art-making by assisting artists in accessing art supplies for their projects and developing and maintaining adaptive supplies as needed. Give artists technical assistance related to their practice and provide daily written documentation on the artists with which you work. Assist artists with social media and basic technical support.
• Studio Operations: Develop and maintain the daily studio schedule while supervising the implementation of all program and support schedules. Monitor the rotations committee, delegating where support is needed to ensure cleaning/organizational responsibilities align with the studio's needs.
• PACE Supervision: Act as a point of contact for all PACE relations, ordering tickets and scheduling rides for artists as needed. Confirm morning and afternoon PACE travel to ensure accurate billing and reimbursement coordination.
• Documentation and Reporting: Implement and oversee attendance tracking & billing in accordance with agency policies. Supervise the documentation of all artists’ activities in Therap, and provide detailed General Event Reports and T-Logs. Provide monthly attendance reports on all programming.
• Exhibitions & Events: Attend and provide support at occasional Circle Contemporary events, Arts of Life events, and external exhibitions. Assist artists with transportation to/from external events.
• From time to time, you may be assigned other job-related duties within your scope of practice.
  

What You’ll Need to be Successful

• Bachelor’s degree in fine arts with an emphasis in painting, drawing, or mixed media, a comparable active (at least two years) arts practice, or commensurate experience in the arts.
• Two years of experience supporting people with intellectual/developmental disabilities preferred.
• Registered Direct Support Person (DSP) in the state of Illinois or willing to pursue registration through Arts of Life.
• A valid driver’s license
• Ability to lift/carry up to 44 lbs.
• Ability to perform basic physical moves such as kneeling, reaching, crouching, bending, and twisting
• CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to pursue registration through Arts of Life.
• Fully vaccinated (2 Pfizer/Moderna or 1 J&J) + recommended boosters

Knowledge, skills, and behaviors:

• An excellent skill set in abstraction, realism, or mixed media arts and a broad familiarity with art materials.
• Knowledge of proper artwork handling preferred.
• Takes initiative; is dedicated and creative, with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Commitment to the process of artistic skills development as an avenue for growth and independence for people with intellectual/ developmental disabilities.
• Experience with social service agencies a plus.
• Proficient in using MAC platforms and Google suite
• Working knowledge of social media platforms.
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience delegating to and supervising interns or volunteers preferred.
• Ability to anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of the collective to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance program effectiveness.

Compensation & Benefits

• $40,000/Year
• Health
• Dental
• Vision discount program
• FSA (after 12 months of service)
• Generous PTO and sick days
• Parental Leave
• Costco Membership
• Retirement Savings Plan

Schedule

This is a full-time (40 hours) position, generally responsible for working on-site directly in the program during program hours on weekdays with hours from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. However, Arts of Life is an operating art studio, and your hours will fluctuate during events, exhibitions, or other times. Your workload may call for you to work longer days or weekend hours to complete your job duties.

Our Culture

Arts of Life is proud to foster a culture of collaboration and respect. We strive to function under a relatively flat hierarchy, with collective decision-making at the heart of our initiatives. Work is typically done in small teams, and Leadership is enthusiastically accessible to all employees. Work-life balance is highly encouraged, and employees are welcome to use the studio facilities after hours and on weekends.

Be Yourself

Arts of Life is firmly committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We value your unique experiences and strongly encourage People of the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, trans, non-binary people, people with disabilities, system-impacted people, veterans, and people of all ages to apply