Teaching Artist (Part-time)

Tacoma Arts Live is a 45 year-old nonprofit arts organization dedicated to creating shared arts experiences that connect, educate, and inspire. Through live performance, cultural programming, and accessible arts education, we bring people together to foster belonging, build shared understanding, and spark creativity across the South Sound.

We believe the arts build strong, vibrant, and connected communities. Every year, our education programs serve approximately 30,000 students and families, using the power of the arts to enrich lives, support educators, and nurture learners of all ages.

Our education team is looking for Teaching Artists who are:

• Experienced in one or more performing arts disciplines or cultural art forms.
• Available for regularly scheduled programs either after school, during the school/work day, and/or evening and weekends.
• Able to facilitate the creation of student-generated work and project-based learning activities.
• Prepared to support the social and emotional development of youth and adults.
• Able to build and sustain relationships with staff at each program site.

We have specific needs in the following areas:

1. Artists who work in an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary manner.
2. Artists who connect well with elementary and middle school aged groups.
3. Artists who are passionate about using the arts as a tool for healing.
4. Artists who are excited to work with students and families from diverse backgrounds.

Hiring Timeline:

• Resumes will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will be held on a rolling basis.
• Please include a cover letter to help us understand how your talents will integrate with our programs.
• New class sessions are always coming up. Applicants strongly encouraged to apply now!
• Teaching Artists will go through onboarding and training prior to the start of scheduled classes.

Status: Part Time Seasonal

Wage: $28-30 per hour depending on experience level; Teaching Artists are paid for teaching time, trainings, and a set amount of prep hours per program.

Responsibilities:

• Work with Tacoma Arts Live Education Team to plan and sequence lessons for your class in alignment with program objectives.
• Maintain attendance records of each class as applicable.
• Work with Tacoma Arts Live Education Team to maintain healthy partnering relationships with school districts, schools, and other community partners.
• Evaluate participant learning as applicable.
• Support students at culminating event or performance event of class.
• Communicate verbally and/or in written form directly with parents via a class welcome letter, periodic updates on class progress and dissemination of culminating event information.

 Qualifications:

• Degree in Performing Arts or Education preferred, or equivalent experience.
• Ability to engage, challenge and support student growth through the arts.
• Ability to create safe, inclusive, supportive, and creative environments for students.
• Ability to work with students of diverse life experience.
• Ability to partner with other teachers.
• Capable of performing in busy, non-traditional classroom settings.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with a proven ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, plan ahead, anticipate and articulate program needs, and work independently while keeping open communication and status reports with supervisors.
• Must provide own transportation to school sites throughout Pierce County.

 Tacoma Arts Live values: 

• Openness (staying transparent and eager to collaborate) 
• Joy (celebrating our humanity) 
• Courage (smart risk-taking, learning,  changing) 
• Diversity (reflecting our community onstage and off) 
• Inclusiveness (inviting broad access, building strong relationships) 
• Stewardship (honoring the legacy we inherit, nurturing the future) 

We are committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive work environment, and to fostering creativity, excellence, and collaboration. We honor and value the dignity of all individuals and want all qualified individuals to apply for our positions. 

Tacoma Arts Live is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in the hiring of personnel on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender or gender identity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other protected status as provided by law.