Job Title: Studio Artist

Salary Range: $15.28 per hour (approx. 12 hours each week)

Location: ArtWorks Solway Studios, 424 Findlay Street, Cincinnati, OH 45214 

Reports to: Civic Artist-in-Residence Studio Manager

Start date: June 2023

About ArtWorks: Now in its 26th year, ArtWorks is an award-winning Greater Cincinnati nonprofit that has pioneered public art and economic impact throughout the region with a mission to create opportunities to change the world through art. ArtWorks co-creates public art with community leaders that build civic pride and beautifies the region, creating jobs for more than 300 artists annually, including youth ages 14-21, to earn a living wage. The economic empowerment and mentorship that ArtWorks provides leads to upward mobility, which is critically important for youth who come from a majority of underserved households and who are underemployed.  Since 1996, ArtWorks has employed nearly 4,000 youth and 3,500 creative professionals. The organization has completed more than 14,000 public and private art works of art, including public sculpture, light-based installations and more than 230 permanent outdoor murals, contributing to the region’s global reputation as an arts destination. Now headquartered in Walnut Hills, ArtWorks is part of the burgeoning arts district in Cincinnati’s historic second downtown. Learn more at artworkscincinnati.org.

About the New Monuments Initiative: Monuments make a public statement about the ideas, values, or individuals a community thinks their society should remember or honor. ArtWorks, along with partnering community organizations, will work to ensure that Cincinnati’s statement is one of equity, justice, and truth-telling. The New Monuments initiative will aim to reimagine and rebuild commemorative spaces that celebrate and affirm the historical contributions of the many diverse communities that make up the United States. New Monuments can take the form of prototypes, outdoor art exhibitions, and mixed media materials. They are more than memorials, historical markers, and public statuary, but also storytelling and civic spaces to gather and make meaning. Through this work, ArtWorks plans to host public dialogue and reflection and recenter voices, stories, and narratives to include those who have often been denied historical recognition to inform the creation of new monuments in Cincinnati.

 Job Description

ArtWorks is launching its first year-round Civic Artist Studio, which will lead to community engagement and outcomes for New Monuments. The Civic Artists Studio will provide youth (ages 18 – 24) with consistent employment for an entire year. Studio Artists will conceptualize, design, and produce, community engagement activities, the activation of public spaces, and works of art.

This program offers a unique opportunity for Studio Artists to develop towards a career in the arts and to take part in various levels of the community engagement process. Studio Artists will learn aspects of civic art practices including art production, community arts and engagement, and the study and implementation of equity and justice work. The Studio Artists will collaborate with the Civic Studio Manager to create a plan to engage the public around monuments with the goal of producing innovative art informed by community engagement sessions. Examples of these outcomes could include educational art prints, pop-up galleries of community-driven monument designs, informative podcasts, etc. Studio Artists will additionally support the visioning and production of new monuments in Cincinnati. 

In addition, to direct work supporting New Monument’s projects,  Studio Artists will have the opportunity to engage in a series of professional development opportunities. Workshops will cover everything from career essentials like a resume, cover letter, and portfolio development to specific topics like budgeting, community engagement, and networking opportunities. Field trips and other engagement activities will be prioritized to provide moments of historical learning and to inspire Studio Artists.

This program will have a flexible schedule throughout the year and ArtWorks is seeking artists that are able to commit to working through August 2023.  Studio Artists will be required to attend weekly meetings with the full team and commit to working approximately 12 hours each week through the program.

Key Responsibilities: 

Community Engagement

· Learn the principles of community engagement and creative place-making and how it informs the design and production of public art. 

· Lead community engagements including live artmaking, public think tank discussions, and more.

· Develop and foster positive relationships with the community and across generations, including supporting ongoing communication with community councils, schools, city officials, artists, etc. 

· Collect, organize, analyze, and synthesize data collected through engagements to inform a Cincinnati monument audit and final report that will be shared with the public.

· Support the facilitation of a Call-to-Artists and provide Artists with findings and research from the Engagement, Inventory, and Research phase.

Design & Production

· Collaborate in the design and creation of tactile art that is informed by community engagement and/or fosters further community engagement. 

· Develop skillsets across art mediums, such as digital design, screen printing, game design, and more, to support the many different art forms that can be used to engage the community (i.e., posters, community paint activities, etc.)

· Respond to the feedback of artwork and adjust to project needs and ArtWorks art production standards.

· Develop a personal portfolio of design work related to civic art projects.

Career Readiness

· Attend career readiness and professional development opportunities throughout the year. This may include opportunities outside of the standard work schedule.

· Complete professional development program milestones, including portfolio reviews, cover letter and resume workshops, networking opportunities, and artist talks.

Participation in completing reviews, program evaluations, and surveys.

Qualifications and experiences:

• Must be between 18 and 24 years old at the start of employment
• Commitment to ArtWorks’ mission, vision, values, culture and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Plan
• 1 - 2 years of art classes at high school or college level, or equivalent independent practice
• Experience collaborating on art projects or willingness to work in a team production environment
• Basic knowledge of - Illustrator, Photoshop, Coral Paint, and Procreate a plus, but not required
• Must be willing to work outside of normal business hours when needed
• Ready and willing to learn from and work with professional artists 

Skills and abilities:

• Basic organizational, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to manage time well, particularly while managing competing priorities
• Proficiency with MS Word and PowerPoint, Excel is a plus
• Adhere to ethical behavior and business practices
• Detail oriented
• Curious about facts and trends; a continuous learner
• Comfortable with public speaking
• Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, solve problems, produce art, and execute projects
• Interest in learning and developing client management skills
• Creative, flexible, and innovative 

The Payoff: 

• Be part of an amazing mission and make a mark in transforming the Greater Cincinnati region with public art, building community, and investing in young artists 
• Help build a future home for ArtWorks with a site for permanent art studios, gallery, and event space to build a more vibrant community
• Be part of a dynamic team that embraces a growth mindset
• Be part of a collaborative, creative and flexible work culture that is people centered.
• Join a team that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in community-centered work that creates positive change. Read our full commitment here. 

To Apply: 

• Please apply through PAYLOCITY LINK with cover letter, resume, 5 portfolio samples, and three references. Please include images of your art that show your distinct style and range as an artist. Please combine all images into one PDF document no larger than 4MB. Upload using the additional materials button.

Application Deadline: 11:59PM, May 14, 2023