Teaching Artist for Community Engagement Programs
Reports to: Director of Community Engagement
Contract Position
HCP’s Community Engagement programs recognize the camera as a tool for empowerment, allowing students to celebrate their identities, express their ideas, and control their own narratives through image-making. Community Engagement programs aim to foster a growth mindset and boost confidence among participants while maintaining a safe space to learn and create. By meeting students where they are, teaching artists provide a supportive and encouraging atmosphere that enables students to take risks, express themselves authentically, and engage with new ideas and perspectives. This emphasis on safety and inclusivity ensures that all students feel valued and respected throughout their journey with HCP.
Our teaching artists celebrate Houston’s diversity by exposing students to the works of regional, national, and international photographers, fostering a global perspective, and allowing young people to see themselves reflected in the artists they study. This exposure enriches their understanding of photography and broadens their worldview, fostering empathy and cultural appreciation. Community partners have included Culture of Health Advancing Together, Houston Independent School District, Texas Children’s Hospital, and many more.
HCP Teaching artists are independent contractors and not employees of HCP. HCP will not provide fringe benefits, including health insurance, paid vacation, or any other employee benefit for Teaching artists. Teaching artists are hired on a rolling basis as opportunities arise.
Application Instructions:
HCP aspires to build a roster of 8-10 teaching artists contracted for hire as requests for programming arise. HCP understands that teaching artists’ availability fluctuates, and we hope to provide teaching opportunities to qualified members of our community when it aligns with their schedule.
For interested applicants, please submit your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references in one PDF file to search@hcponline.org Subject line: Teaching Artist for Community Engagement Programs. Applications received before July 31, 2024, will be prioritized. We accept applications year-round.
Responsibilities:
- Teach each Community Engagement program to the best of his/her/their ability and behave appropriately and professionally at all times when teaching.
- Maintain the safety and confidentiality of students enrolled in Community Engagement programs.
- Refrain from making any significant changes or additions to the Community Engagement curricula without the written consent of HCP’s Director of Community Engagement or Executive Director. Teaching artistmay make minor adaptations to lessons to suit his/her/their style of delivery and/or to enhance students’ understanding of the content. When possible, Teaching artists will provide suggestions for curriculum development.
- Participate in all required training and, when possible, in optional professional development provided by HCP and other parties.
- Record the number of students in each class, and distribute and collect photo releases and demographic tables provided by HCP for participants of all assigned Community Engagement programs and deliver them to the Director of Community Engagement.
- Document their residency by photographing students working during residencies, the artworks they produce, and any exhibitions or celebrations that occur. Teaching artists are to share them with the Director of Community Engagement via a Google Drive folder at the end of each residency.
- Adhere to all requirements for independent contractors presented by partnering school districts and/or organizations, including but not limited to state and/or federal background checks, fingerprinting, child abuse clearance, TB tests, and/or mandated reporter training.
- Be willing and available to plan with partner teachers, social workers, and/or school or organizational staff members, as necessary, to schedule 10 instructional hours within a fifteen-week timeframe.
- Adhere to all protocols when printing in the HCP Digital Lab for a Community Engagement program and submit a Digital Lab Log Sheet for all prints made for their program(s)
Qualifications:
- Active studio practice in photography and/or related media
- Two years of experience teaching in Houston school districts and/or communities or similar environments
- The desire to be a strong mentor, putting the needs of the students first, and meet students where they are
- Punctuality and professionalism
- Ability to differentiate teaching to learners of diverse abilities and levels
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
- Proficient in Google Docs, Slides and Drive
- Commitment to lifelong learning and refinement and expansion of their teaching methodology and skill set
- Fluency in Spanish, Pashto, Urdu, Hindi, Vietnamese, and/or Arabic is desired but not required.
Compensation:
Teaching artists are compensated $60 per teaching and $20 per preparatory hour, with no more than two hours of preparation time per one hour of teaching. Teaching artists are compensated $15 per hour when attending mandatory meetings. Two to three meetings are held per academic year.
About Houston Center for Photography:
The mission of Houston Center for Photography is to increase society’s understanding and appreciation of photography and its evolving role in contemporary, emphatically visual culture. HCP encourages artists, builds audiences, stimulates dialogue, and promotes inquiry about photography and related media through education, exhibitions, publications, fellowship programs, and community collaborations. HCP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a resource to its members and Houston communities through programs that have regional and national impact.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Houston Center for Photography is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who would increase the diversity of HCP.
About Houston Center for Photography
The mission of Houston Center for Photography is to increase society’s understanding and appreciation of photography and its evolving role in contemporary, emphatically visual culture. HCP encourages artists, builds audiences, stimulates dialogue, and promotes inquiry about photography and related media through education, exhibitions, publications, fellowship programs, and community collaborations. HCP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as a resource to its members and Houston communities with programs that have regional and national impact.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Houston Center for Photography is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and ideas, who would increase the diversity of HCP. We are a global-majority team that speaks multiple languages.
