Curiosity Studio Apprentice

Start Date: September 8th

The intent of this position is to remove financial and access barriers to learning about the field of art therapy before deciding to pursue higher education. In this role, the apprentice will learn about and participate in group facilitation emphasizing community health, individual wellness and the inherently therapeutic process of art making.  This experience does not substitute graduate school training required for professional practice. 

Job Description:  

This apprentice position will last 6 months; to be paid $20 an hour for up to 20 hours per week. If the relationship yields a mutual good match, there is the potential to hire when the 6-month apprentice period ends. Hours will take place during normal business hours (M-F 9-5pm), as well as evenings and weekends. Schedules will be outlined a minimum of two weeks in advance. 

An apprenticeship at Curiosity Studio will serve as training for becoming a group facilitator with an emphasis in teaching art skills and leading art experiences in community settings. The training will start with shadowing and co-facilitating offerings at Curiosity Studio. By the end of the six month period, the apprentice will independently create and lead their own class and be able to facilitate experiences independently. 

About Us: 

Curiosity Studio’s mission is to help people get to know themselves and others through art making. We celebrate being messy, playful, and experimenting with analog art forms to develop richer art practices and lives. 

The actions and strategy of Curiosity Studio are guided by our community principals, (APPENDIX 1). When participating in business representing or regarding Curiosity Studio or its therapeutically informed model, these principles shall be the benchmark and expectation for any and all activities and interactions. 

Apprentice Responsibilities:

Group Arts Facilitation:

• Build art curriculum to match the needs of specific programs and community goal(s).
• Shadow a variety of facilitators at Curiosity Studio
• Transition from co-leading to facilitating arts-based experiences independently.
• Attend a variety of Curiosity Studio functions and classes to understand the breadth of facilitation styles and requirements of specific opportunities for arts-based engagement.
• Participate in weekly check-ins with Lauren Callis.
• Attend training and staff consultation.

Promotion:

• Promote creative classes and events on Curiosity Studio and other relevant social media channels, websites, and newsletters.
• Network with clients, organizations and other avenues of relationship building on the studio’s behalf.

Administrative:

• Execute administrative tasks required to deliver a class or event.
• Collect and organize data surrounding studio programming.
• Assist in curation of Spare Change Gallery shows and functions.

Required Skills/ Experience for Position: 

• 2-3 years of experience within education, community or cultural-based work. 
• An ideal candidate for this position is…
  • Able to communicate with new people in classroom settings.
  • Comfortable working on an intimate team with a priority for clear and active communication.
  • Motivated self-starter who asks for help and clarification when necessary. 
  • Would identify as an artist who is interested in teaching and skill sharing within that identity. 
• An ideal candidate has reliable means to travel off site with art materials necessary to run programming.

Duties may Include:

• Facilitate a group art experience by teaching art skills and leading art experiences in community settings.
• Source activities and research art projects for Curiosity Studio that can be adjusted for community needs and interests.
• Prepare space for classes based on community art therapy values (outlined in Appendix A): this is inclusive of setting the space to accommodate participants’ needs, cleaning and organizing. 
• Source materials for projects led. 
• Ensure art projects, processes and studio space are accessible.
• Meet weekly to review schedules and tasks related to calendar, promotional and upcoming events. 
• Initiate campaigns for upcoming classes and marketing needs based on community needs.
• Help to develop and refine strategies for marketing.
• Maintain a creative practice and feel supported in finding artistic voice to process events on the job in weekly check-ins.
• Support the ongoing development of digital communication.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Build proficiency in program development for community arts settings.
• Deepen task management skills as a facilitator. 
• Build knowledge and skills related to art materials use, storage and properties for engagement. 
• Gain confidence in group leadership skills.
• Learn about community models of accountability through studio agreements (see appendix 2)
• Increase proficiency in recognizing and responding to the accessibility needs of the group. 
• Translate the art experience for greater accessibility.
• Build confidence in assessing areas of personal strength, growth, and potential needs for support.

Benefits:

• Participate in ongoing education about the community art therapy studio model.
• Shadow and support classes to learn about CS’s facilitation style.
• Access to Curiosity Studio training.
• Attend meetings with partners and collaborators to learn about the development and implementation of programming.
• Participate in somatic training as an introduction to a trauma-informed framework.
• Earn a competitive hourly wage for a training apprenticeship.

We believe that current systems in place have historically marginalized many communities due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, language, and/or immigration status. As an organization, we seek to provide increased opportunity and strength through supporting artists and facilitators that represent all social identities including race, tribal affiliation, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomic background and the intersectionality of these identities. 

APPENDIX 1: Curiosity Studio Guiding Principles

Curiosity Studio is a community art therapy studio. “Community art therapy studios promote individual and communal transformation outside of traditional health settings.” (Nolan, 2019).  

The consistent and evolving programming offers space to meet individuals where they are. We aim to create a space that allows for organic relationship building, mutual investment, and  guidance to occur within community relationships.

We value wholeness, voice, connection, sustainability, process, and snacks within all of our programming. These values inform the classes we choose to run and the events that we commit to. It is from this place that we ask partners to move with us towards more accessible, informed and liberated spaces. 

APPENDIX 2: CURIOSITY STUDIO MUTUAL AGREEMENTS for participants and staff

The following is emailed prior to events and displayed in the studio for staff and participants to foster and consider:

 Curiosity for Yourself

• Listen to your body’s needs and trust what you hear
• Release perfection, relinquish judgment
• Thank yourself for showing up today

Curiosity for Others

• Honor other’s knowledge
• Assume good intentions but attend to impact
• Respect what folks choose to share about themselves

Curiosity for Space & Materials

• Make this time special
• Assist in caring for the studio by cleaning and returning supplies after use
• Treat your art how you want to be treated