Creativity Explored Youth Teaching Artist San Francisco, CA · Full time Company website

Apply for Youth Teaching Artist

Creativity Explored is a San Francisco nonprofit that partners with people with developmental disabilities to create an artistic, studio-based collective where the creative capacity of any person can flourish. We do this by placing the work, needs, culture, and experience of artists with developmental disabilities at the center of the community in a way that honors humanity, respects self-agency, and nurtures creative potential. We manage art studio spaces in the Mission and Potrero Hill neighborhoods.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job title: Youth Teaching Artist

Classification: 37.5 hours a week 

Contract Start Date: June 8th, 2026 

Contract End Date: August 13th, 2026 

Benefits: Accrued sick pay

Compensation: $25.00

Location: Principally based at Camp Imaginate, located at Grace Fellowship Community Church 

Reports to: Youth and Community Programs Manager

Application Review Begins: May 12th, 2026

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Creativity Explored is a San Francisco nonprofit that partners with people with developmental disabilities to create an artistic, studio-based collective where the creative capacity of any person can flourish. We do this by placing the work, needs, culture, and experience of artists with developmental disabilities at the center of the community in a way that honors humanity, respects self-agency, and nurtures creative potential.

CE is a warm, fast-paced, and fun place to work, with a long-serving multidisciplinary staff that is deeply committed to our community. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Youth Teaching Artist will lead art-making and educational activities at Camp Imaginate. The Youth Teaching Artist will be a practicing arts educator with the skills to facilitate growth for teen artists with diverse needs and art-making backgrounds. The ideal candidate will foster creativity and curiosity for youth of all abilities.

The Youth Teaching Artist will work collaboratively with the Youth Program Associates, the Youth and Community Programs Coordinator, the Youth and Community Programs Manager, and other Creativity Explored administrative and direct service staff.

The Youth Teaching Artist will collaborate with other staff and volunteers to develop and implement a scaffolded art curriculum that meets the needs of young artists, while participating as a member of the direct service team. The ideal candidate will have expertise in mediums such as painting, drawing, print-making, ceramics, or digital art. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Approach all teen artists with respect for their individual preferences, communication styles, and creative choices.
• Encourage each artist to discover their own voice and develop a unique artistic style.
• Build strong, supportive relationships with youth artists and guide them in deepening their art practice.
• Create an arts curriculum that introduces young artists to new mediums and new ways of working with materials.
• Implement and continuously refine curriculum to meet evolving interests, abilities, and goals of participating youth.
• Support youth artists in developing new skills, including growth mindset, self-efficacy, social awareness, and positive relationship-building.
• Assess artistic skills, help youth artists set goals, and develop teaching strategies that support their progress.
• Participate actively in a learning community grounded in person-centered thinking.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to strengthen teaching skills aligned with organizational goals.
• Assist with selecting, preparing, and exhibiting youth artwork in culminating showcases and exhibitions.
• Ensure that all youth artists who want to share their work have the support and opportunity to do so.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Organizational Relationships

The Youth Teaching Artist is expected to work productively in a team environment and to foster open communication with staff across the organization to produce communications that support the organization’s mission and goals. They are also expected to work towards embodying the four components of CE's Staff Philosophy: Community, Creativity, Collaboration, and Compassion.

Compliance with Policies and Procedures

The Youth Teaching Artist will comply with established Creativity Explored policies and practices.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

• Post-secondary education in fine arts or other arts-related or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 2 years of arts teaching experience preferred
• Previous experience working with people with disabilities preferred
• Process-based, inquiry-based approach to artmaking 
• Growth mindset, with a strong ability to collaborate with people across the organization
• Interest in or experience working with people with disabilities in an arts context
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with people with developmental disabilities 
• Ability to work in a team-based environment, as well as work independently
• Sound organizational skills 
• Bilingual/bicultural a plus; We specifically encourage applications from Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and Vietnamese speakers

ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Capability of providing physical assistance to individuals with physical disabilities (movement of wheelchair)

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Complete and maintain CPR, First Aid, and AED certification (initial certification to be completed within 30 days of date of hire)
• Workplace Harassment Training
• Complete Creativity Explored staff training pertinent to the position's job responsibilities as assigned

OTHER INFORMATION 

The Youth Teaching Artist position is a contract, nonexempt, temporary position with a contract end date of August 13th, 2026. The schedule will consist of 5 set work days working at Camp Imaginate. The position receives accrued sick leave time.

Creativity Explored requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon hire. Offers are subject to satisfactory Criminal Records Clearance and proof of negative TB test results completed within the last year. Creativity Explored will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Creativity Explored is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage.

Creativity Explored is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive work environment where diversity is celebrated and valued. BIPOC, people with disabilities, and bilingual/bicultural individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.