Opportunities

Do you share our passion for art and kids?

You’ve come to the right place.

Since Ruth Asawa went into that first public school more than fifty years ago, hundreds of career painters, sculptors, dancers, singers, drummers, and more have followed suit—sparking creativity in their students and receiving rich rewards in return. We couldn’t reach as many children as we do without a diverse array of talented Artist Mentors sharing their expertise in our many visual and performing arts programs.

Calling All Artists.

We are always seeking working artists who are keen to share their talents in a variety of disciplines (see below). Residencies are available in the public schools (K-8); with our musical theater troupe, the SFArtsED Players; at after-school programs; and during SFArtsED Summer Camps.

Specifically, we seek artists who have demonstrated a commitment to developing connections with students and the school community, and who have the ability to develop hands-on visual- and performing-arts projects that integrate critical thinking, individual learning skills, and collaborative communication. Flexibility is also key!

All Resident Artists are paid as independent contractors, and submit invoices for payment (once per month during the school year, and every two weeks during summer)—the rate of pay increasing with experience with the organization. Outside of contracted hours, Artists may also be compensated for time spent on performances and exhibitions.

We ask new artists to shadow veteran artists in the summer at our camps or during the school year. And we may ask applying artists to “audition” teach in classes at schools or summer camp.

Qualifications
  • Active in your art form on a professional level.
  • Experience teaching visual or performing arts to a diverse group of young people.
  • A deep understanding and knowledge of your art form and the ability to share those concepts with students.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Openness to feedback from SFArtsED directors on teaching approach.
  • Willingness to problem-solve with school partners (e.g. classroom teacher and principal).

Public Schools: Artists are most frequently sought for residencies ranging from six weeks to a full school year, depending upon school needs.

SFArtsED Players: We begin staffing artists for our musical theater troupe, the SFArtsED Players, in August, and hire for rehearsals from December through April, with performances in April. Rehearsals typically involve one day per week after school (up to two days as we approach the opening of a show) and Saturdays.

Summer Camp: We seek Artists for our Summer Camps in late winter and spring, in anticipation of the coming season.

Artist Disciplines
  • Dance (Creative Movement, Modern)
  • Theater
  • World Dance (Capeoira, Hip-Hop, African, Brazilian)
  • Music (Drumming, Rhythms, Orff, Choral)
  • Visual Arts (Mixed media, Fine Arts, Ceramics, Textile)
  • Musical Theater (Dance, Staging, Theater Direction, Choral Direction)
  • Musical Director (Musical Theaer)
  • Puppetry
  • Creative Writing (Lower-school theater/story scenes)
  • Piano Accompaniment (for Musical Theater)
Applications

We interview all year for upcoming positions, and often hold audition classes throughout the year.

To apply or request more information, please email or send your résumé to Mia Waller. Please also include a cover letter, brief bio, examples of professional work, and any work that you have completed with students, as well as a sample project proposal.

mia.w@sfartsed.org

The San Francisco Arts Education Project
Mia Waller, Program Director
c/o Sydney Goldstein Theatre
135 Van Ness Avenue #110
San Francisco, CA 94102

Upon receipt of your application packet, the Program Director may be in touch to schedule an in-person interview and classroom audition.

Email Mia!

We love our interns—and the feeling is mutual.

Our internship program was established more than twenty years ago, and we so appreciate the energy and enthusiasm that our high school and college interns bring to our visual- and performing arts programs. Both paid and unpaid internship opportunities are available.

SFArtsED Summer Camp Internships

We have opportunities for interns at every session of our visual arts and performing arts camps. Some of our summer interns are former campers, others are students at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts Technical Theater Program; college students pursuing secondary arts education; and former Players—who were so transformed by their own experiences, they can’t wait to come back and share the love.

SFArtsED Players Internships

Most interns at our after-school musical theater program are currently enrolled in the Technical Theater Program at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. They are graded for their teaching/learning, and paid for their efforts, as they help guide the productions from rehearsal to performance.

These student interns build professional sets, make costumes, design and run lights and sound, act as stage manager, and assist backstage. RASOTA students assume these demanding roles and serve as mentors for the younger performers.

SFArtsED Artists-in-Residence and After-School Program Internships

Most our interns assisting in school and after-school programs come to us from local colleges and art institutes, where they pursue advanced arts studies. They work with students during the school day, and teach art—including dance and music. At our After-School programs, interns help reinforce the day’s studies, lending their enthusiasm as they work beside Artists and Artists-in-Residence.

Interns often come from the following secondary schools: San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco State University, California College of the Arts, Stanford University, and the University of San Francisco.

Applications

To apply for any of our internship programs, please send your cover letter and résumé to Artistic Director Emily Keeler via email or post:

emily.k@sfartsed.org

The San Francisco Arts Education Project
Emily Keeler
c/o Sydney Goldstein Theatre
135 Van Ness Avenue #110
San Francisco, CA 94102

Email Emily

We are seeking Artist Mentors in the visual and performing arts to work with children in our in-school artists’ residencies and in our after-school and weekend programs. Please click on the Artists tab above.

We currently do not have any open administrative positions within SFArtsED.