The mission of Chicago Children’s Museum is to improve
children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning
connect.
Chicago Children's Museum welcomes applications from local artists of all disciplines.
Chicago Children’s Museum’s Position on the Arts
Chicago Children’s Museum (
CCM) believes that all children have a right to creative self-expression and access to the arts.
CCM
is dedicated to being a leading arts provider and, to that end, seeks
to expose teachers, parents, and caregivers to the vital role the arts
play in children’s healthy emotional, social, physical, and cognitive
development.
CCM provides access to a
wide range of art forms, including drama, dance, music, and the literary
and visual arts. Art explorations are thoughtfully designed to be
playful, child-centered experiences that foster self-expression,
creativity, imagination, and meaning making. They include opportunities
to create and view art and performances, participate in sensory-based
material explorations, and investigate a variety of authentic art tools,
techniques, and processes in a dedicated studio space. Visitors are
invited to experience the arts with artists and performers from diverse
backgrounds and celebrate multiple perspectives.
Through these hands-on experiences,
CCM
hopes to plant seeds of understanding and appreciation for this dynamic
means of learning, self-expression, and communication. Arts programs
are designed to promote children’s natural interests and aid them in
making connections to each other and the world around them. Dynamic,
often “messy” process-based explorations that surprise and delight,
along with opportunities for safe risk-taking and “whole body”
engagement, are offered museum-wide. We provide a supportive environment
for positive adult-child experiences, with opportunities for
participants to explore individually, collaboratively, or side-by-side
with family, friends, or new acquaintances.
Artworks, especially those made by children, are valued cultural
artifacts that are included as images in print materials, integrated
into exhibits, and displayed museum-wide and beyond.
CCM
respects the many cultural approaches to art and is committed to
broadening the traditional definition of the term, by offering
opportunities for artistic expression to diverse audiences encompassing a
variety of backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
About the Visiting Artists Program
Kraft Artabounds Studio Visiting Artists Workshops
Throughout the year,
CCM hosts, on average, ten Visiting Artists Workshops (
VAW), featuring artists from various cultural and artistic backgrounds.
VAW
provide a chance for workshop participants to interact with an artist,
learn about the artist’s medium and/or culture, and participate in an
art activity facilitated by the visiting artist.
In hosting a range of artists,
VAW
represent to visitors the shifting definition of and varying roles of
artists in their communities. Visiting artists reflect differing
perspectives on what it means to be an artist—be it activist,
entrepreneur, entertainer, and/or educator.
Participants have a chance to interact with and directly question an
artist’s work or culture in an open, relaxed atmosphere. While engaging
in an artistic medium similar to the visiting artist’s, participants can
experience the artist’s creative process, whether illustrating a book
for a client, creating a symbol of cultural pride, or making a beautiful
image to call one’s own.
At
CCM, Visiting Artists
Workshops present open-ended experiences that can accommodate a variety
of ages and artistic abilities. Workshops are geared to children ages
four and up, along with their caregivers and families. However, adults
and younger siblings are always welcome and encouraged to participate in
the art activity. Workshops are 30 to 45 minutes long, serve up to
25-30 people, and are typically offered on a Thursday evening and the
following Saturday and Sunday afternoon, for a total of 8-10 workshops.
Museum visitors obtain a free pass (with museum admission) an hour
before each workshop begins. Because there is no pre-registration, the
class make-up always changes. For examples of workshop descriptions,
please visit
www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org.
Kraft Artabounds Studio Facilities
The Kraft
Artabounds Studio has a range of equipment for printmaking,
papermaking,
and a wide variety of materials for drawing, painting and sculpture.
The studio works with artists to obtain specific materials for their
workshops. In the past visiting artists have led printing, painting,
sculpting, clay, fiber, cultural crafts, and
papermaking
workshops. The studio has also hosted such performing arts workshops as
steel drumming and recycled-instrument creation, performing an original
play, and stop-motion animation. Other media, including collaborative
projects, are also welcome.
Visiting Artist Responsibilities:
The visiting artist works with the museum’s lead art educator to
create a workshop that can accommodate the variety of participants who
visit the museum. The artist is responsible for preparing the workshop
and bringing materials as agreed on in the planning process. Typical
Saturday and Sunday workshops are at 1, 2, 3 and
4pm.
Thursday evening workshops are at 5:30 and 6:30. While facilitating
workshops, the visiting artist is supported by one of the museum’s arts
educators.
Stipend
There is a modest stipend attached to all Visiting Artists Programs,
which varies according to the program. A typical stipend for three days
(10 workshops) is $450 and includes a one-hour meeting at the museum and
any preparation conducted by the artist. On workshop days, parking
passes are provided by the museum. Travel expenses are not covered by
the museum. Supplies will be purchased by the museum unless otherwise
agreed upon in planning.
Demonstrated Competencies
- A bachelor’s degree in art education, fine arts, or comparable art experience.
- Demonstrated experience with children, parents, and families from diverse backgrounds preferred.
- The ability to work in team-oriented environment and act without supervision.
- Strong communication skills.
- Reliability.
- Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in a variety of situations and interact with the public.
- Ability to work with children and families in an open-ended atmosphere.
- Able to represent the museum’s position on the arts.
ApplicationArtists interested in participating in the Visiting Artists Program should submit the following:
- Resume, including your work as an artist and any work with children and families.
- A cover letter, including your approach to working with children and families in your artistic medium.
- Example of your artwork (links to websites are welcome).
- A sample plan of an activity you have planned or facilitated for children ages four and up and their families.
Please submit applications to:
Kim
Koin, Manager of Arts Studio and Programs
Chicago Children’s Museum
700 East Grand Ave. Suite 127
Chicago, IL 60611
kimk@chicagochildrensmuseum.org
Artists who submit an application are not guaranteed acceptance into
the Visiting Artists Program. The museum will keep your application on
file and will contact you for further information as needed. We are now
looking at applications for Winter 2013 and on.
Chicago Children’s Museum is an equal opportunity employer.