CUP is seeking a teaching artist to lead an Urban Investigation in the Spring semester of 2015. The teaching artist will work with CUP and a group of public high school students to investigate a fundamental question about how the city works using collaborative research and design.

Each Urban Investigation begins with a key question about the city. To find answers, students go beyond standard classroom learning and engage in rigorous field research, visiting real sites, and interviewing decision-makers and stakeholders. Students then collaborate with the teaching artist to produce innovative, engaging works in a variety of media. These projects are taken up by neighborhood organizations and advocacy groups and used to educate others.

The Urban Investigation will take place in January through June. The position pays a project stipend of $7000. Classes are held after school from 4 to 6 pm either two or three days a week. Classes will meet at Lyons Community School in East Williamsburg. The group will also travel throughout the city for interviews. The topic for this Urban Investigation will be determined with the school, teaching artist, and CUP staff.

CUP teaching artists work with CUP staff to develop course ideas, schedules, and lesson plans. Teaching artists are responsible for training students in research and documentation skills, taking students on site visits, and shaping and managing the execution of the final product. There is a separate budget for materials and other project costs.

Applications are due by email Monday, October 20th at 10am.

Instructions for all teaching artist applicants:

Please submit a cover letter, a resume, contact information for two references, and a work sample with up to five images of what you consider to be your strongest visual work (not your students’ work). Send materials via email to [email protected].

Please send all material as a single PDF. For audio or video work samples, please provide a link. Please use “[YourLastName_YourFirstName] Teaching Artist_Lyons” as your email subject line.

No calls please.

Please address the following in your cover letter:

Why are you interested in the position?

What topics might you be interested in taking on? (For past project examples, visit the Urban Investigation page)

What art and design media are you comfortable working in?

What experience do you have working with high school students, and why do you want to work with high school students?

CUP is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, women, LGBTQ, and disabled candidates to apply.