Cultural Arts Specialist - Visual Arts

Overview

The City of Farmington Hills is hiring a part-time Cultural Arts Specialist focused on visual arts instruction. This role supports youth and adult learners through engaging classes at The Hawk, with teaching assignments shaped by program needs each term.

Start Date and Schedule

The position begins on the listed start date, if applicable, and requires more than 3 hours per week depending on how many classes are assigned. Teaching may take place any day from Sunday through Saturday, at times between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM.

Key Duties

The selected candidate will create lesson plans, lead classes, and guide students through artistic learning experiences. Responsibilities also include preparing class materials, requesting supplies from studio technicians on time, keeping attendance records, and ensuring students use tools, materials, and studio spaces safely and properly. After each class, the studio must be left as clean as it was found, or cleaner. The role also includes sharing improvement ideas with the supervisor, helping shape future class offerings, and representing the Cultural Arts Community at The Hawk and the City of Farmington Hills professionally.

Skills and Training

This position calls for strong studio-based experience and comfort working in a shared community studio environment. The candidate must be capable of creating a safe, encouraging learning atmosphere and working both independently and as part of a broader teaching artist team. Cultural awareness, adaptability, and the ability to provide one-on-one or small-group instruction for learners with different artistic and intellectual abilities are essential. Strong verbal and written communication skills are also required.

Experience Needed

Applicants should have demonstrated experience teaching youth and/or adult art classes in areas such as drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and related visual arts disciplines. It is not necessary to teach every medium listed, but the candidate should have at least one specialty they are confident teaching. The hired person will coordinate with the Cultural Arts Coordinator to decide which visual arts courses and how many classes they will teach each term.

Education and License Requirements

A bachelor's degree in the field is required. If the degree is not completed, substantial experience as a teaching artist may be accepted instead. A valid State of Michigan driver's license with a clean driving record is also required.

Additional Information

Interest in the arts is preferred, along with prior experience in artistic settings.