Studio Coordinator of Furniture Design & Woodworking
Classification: Regular Full-Time, Exempt
Reports to: Visiting Director of Ceramics and Expanded Media
Start Date: January 5, 2024
Location: Snowmass Village, CO
OUR DREAM
To find an energetic and dynamic individual to join our team overseeing a beautiful woodworking machine shop and workshop studio with a history dating back to Sam Maloof. This person will be driven, like us, by a belief that the power of artmaking can change individuals and the world. We enjoy working with career-minded people ready to fully immerse themselves in the day-to-day operations of a world-class teaching, learning and art making program that encourages cross disciplinary exploration and learning. Ideal teammates will bring a passion for their own artistic practice, a passion for developing a practical knowledge of traditional and contemporary techniques, as well as a passion for understanding pedagogy and teaching practices.
About:
Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a year-round visual-arts not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization with a 55-year history of providing transformative experiences that celebrate artists, art-making and creative dialog, at the intersection of craft and the global contemporary art world. Anderson Ranch brings together both aspiring and internationally renowned artists who come from across the country and around the world to test new ideas, explore new disciplines and techniques, hone their art-making skills, engage in meaningful dialog and connect with thought leaders in the artistic community.
Anderson Ranch’s campus is an artistic community nestled among the pristine peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The Ranch campus consists of 14 buildings providing 55,000 square feet of facilities including eight studio buildings, a gallery, a lecture hall, café, store, administrative offices, a student dormitory, as well as residential apartments and cabins. State-of-the-art equipment allows cross-disciplinary experimentation within the mediums of ceramics, woodworking, photography, digital fabrication, painting, sculpture and printmaking. The campus is an oasis of renovated 19th-century cabins and barns that sit alongside contemporary designed buildings, all within the renowned cultural and recreation communities of Aspen/Snowmass, CO, and the Roaring Fork Valley.
Anderson Ranch cultivates a culture of experimentation and collaboration, offering world-class art-making facilities and equipment across diverse mediums, experienced visiting faculty and access to the highest quality staff.
Mission:
Anderson Ranch’s mission is to enrich lives with art, inspiration and community.
We achieve this by offering:
- Workshops: Providing intensive 1-3-week workshops for artists of all levels and all ages that both improve technical art-making skills and provide transformative experiences for art makers.
- Advanced Mentoring Programs: Offering three-year mentoring programs that advance artistic practice and careers in the arts.
- Artist Residencies: Providing 5 and 10-week long juried Artists-in-Residence programs, which give emerging and mid-career professional artists the time, space and resources to develop new work using our world-class facilities.
- Visiting Artist Experiences: Providing flexible and unique curated experiences to support established national and international artists seeking a retreat to experiment in new mediums or with new techniques and ideas, supported by our staff.
- Anderson Ranch Editions: Artists are invited to work with our professional staff in our studios to make prints or multiples in traditional and cutting-edge processes.
- Community Engagement: Hosting lectures, discussions, seminars and special events which build a community that appreciates, understands and supports art-making within the global contemporary art world and the human experience for both Anderson Ranch guests and the local community.
Work Culture:
- Changing Lives and Changing the World Through Art: We care about people and helping them improve their lives. We enable people to learn and grow, personally and professionally, in a challenging and supportive environment. We meet people where they are and help them reach their goals.
- Culture of Diversity & Inclusion: We learn from diversity and it makes us stronger. At the center of our mission is helping people find their whole selves in their artistic practice. We strive to live the same values in our professional lives. That includes actively embracing diversity of age, race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, as well as background and experience. We approach our work thoughtfully, learn from each other and share a commitment to inclusivity.
- Rigor & Excellence: We provide the best possible experience for our community of guests, including faculty, interns, students, residents, visiting artists, volunteers, supporters and staff. We demand the best from ourselves and each other.
- Culture of Critique: We believe in a “Culture of Critique” where we offer and receive honest feedback and support each other in learning and improving.
- Culture of Results, Connectivity and Flexibility: We believe overachieving is better than overworking. We prioritize Anderson Ranch and get the job done 110% by being available when needed, by being open, working collaboratively, welcoming feedback and getting work done efficiently, effectively and on time. Once this is achieved, we enjoy the flexibility of where and when we work; we can pursue our passions, be it art-making, hobbies or special interests.
Position Summary:
The Studio Coordinator of Furniture Design & Woodworking is a three-year position. This position will take ownership of the studio facility, equipment and supplies; setting a standard for a world-class art environment. They will act as a host to visiting faculty, students and individual artists while providing hands-on support for learning and art making at the highest level. They will monitor faculty, workshops and studio use to assure the highest quality and safest possible experience. Studio Coordinators are expected to assist with coordinating programs and to both teach and lead demonstrations. They are expected to act as an ambassador and spokesperson for their program area, promoting workshop registration, supporting faculty, residents and visiting artists, and cultivating alumni and funder relationships.
Core Responsibilities
- Studio Facility, Equipment, Supplies, and Administrative Needs: Manage and supervise the studio facilities, equipment and supplies. Organize and maintain the studio in a clean and efficient manner on a day-to-day basis. Perform and document routine inspections and service maintenance of equipment, including upgrades and minor repairs. Purchase and organize supplies, maintain inventory, receive shipments and manage purchase orders. Manage administrative records, including operating within a budget, posting income, expenses and calculating estimates and budget requests.
- Studio Safety & Security: Assure the safety of the studio, surrounding area, equipment and visitors. Train, supervise and support visitors of all ages, abilities and skill levels. While physical safety is the priority, this includes assuring a supportive culture that is welcoming and respectful of all. Specific responsibilities include security and safety policies and procedures for children and youth. While Studio Coordinators have primary responsibility for their assigned areas, all staff are responsible for safety and security on campus.
- Coordinate Workshops: Support the Artistic Director to develop workshop concepts and curriculum, assist with identifying faculty, edit descriptions, recruit students, orchestrate faculty and workshop logistics and monitor workshop evaluations.
- Workshops & Demonstrations: Studio Coordinators are expected to actively teach and/or co-teach scheduled workshops and be available to assist workshops when needed. Studio Coordinators are expected to lead demonstrations and custom artmaking experiences as needed and to support artist-in-residence and visiting artists, as well as provide one-on-one mentoring.
- Training & Oversight of Interns/Volunteers: Support the recruitment, selection, training and oversight of assigned volunteers, teaching assistants and interns. Train in shop safety, equipment, machines, mentor artistic and professional development, and monitor performance and adherence to organizational standards.
- Studio Relationship Ambassadors: Act as a goodwill ambassador, internally and externally, for the studio program, including managing Ranch relationships with faculty, workshop students, visiting artists, community members and funding partners. This will include, but is not limited to, recruiting alumni members, liaising with individual funders and underwriters, as well as supporting grants and preparing reports.
- Special Projects and Programs: Studio Coordinators will be assigned both special projects and ongoing programs to support the overall success of the Ranch. These will include efforts that cross studio areas within the Ranch, and yet are a core responsibility within the role such as the Gallery, Visiting Artists, Anderson Ranch Editions, Critical Dialogue, Artists-In-Residence, Outreach and Internship Programs.
Expected Skills & Qualifications:
- Knowledge of teaching standards/methods
- Experience with a wide variety of materials and processes, both traditional and digital including:
- Furniture joinery
- Wood bending – steam bending, bent lamination, hot pipe bending
- Power carving and traditional carving
- Upholstery
- Solid wood construction
- Veneer work
- Adobe Creative Suite, Word and Excel
- Basic knowledge of digital fabrication equipment like the CNC router and laser cutter
- Experience maintaining and repairing wood shop equipment: stationary machinery and handheld tools
- Knowledge of shop and machine safety protocols
- Proven time-management skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, the ability to multitask, coordinate current and long-range projects and meet deadlines
- A self-starter with the ability to work both in a team setting as well as independently. Must be a strong and proactive communicator, both in verbal and written communication
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to keep confidential information secure and private.
- Ability to provide excellent customer service under pressure and conflict resolution skills
- Strong computer skills, and experience with standard software
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed
- Clear background check as appropriate to supervising children and youth
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in art or related field required, MFA desired.
- At least two years of experience in a woodworking facility, arts environment or related area preferred.
Staff Community Responsibilities:
- Community Outreach Leader: All staff members are expected to build and lead partnerships with community organizations as they relate to their area of responsibility, and to actively support the outreach efforts of other team members.
- Engaged & Supportive Team Member: All staff are expected to support colleagues and engage in the programs and events of the Ranch by attending lectures, artist talks, fundraising events, and community wide events and being available to jump in and help make them a success.
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- Support Major Fundraising & Community Events: All staff are expected to support the major annual events that engage the public and fundraisers. These are “all hands on deck” efforts and all staff are expected to participate in ways outside their normal professional functions to make them a success from set-up, to execution, to tear down.
- Professional & Personal Development: Continuing to learn and improve is a job requirement of all staff. Team members are expected to be growing, learning, and improving in their artistic and professional lives.
- Brand Ambassador: All team members are expected to comport themselves in a manner that is fitting with the organization; represent the Ranch both on and off-campus, as well as online and on social media, keeping in mind that positivity and professionalism are respected and appreciated.
Physical Requirements:
- Light to heavy work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds.
- The employee frequently is required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms.
- Typical tasks as required to actively teach and supervise art studios/facilities in a historic building space with uneven surfaces, stairs, gravel walkways, etc.
Other Duties:
- The descriptions above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this role. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the role.
- All personnel are required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
- This role requires a flexible schedule including evening and weekend hours as needed, and particularly intense time demands in the summer months.
- This job description may be changed or updated at any time throughout employment.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Base Salary: $53,000 – $55,000
- Total Compensation Package Value: $61,000 – $64,000
- Company paid medical insurance, option to add additional family
- Company paid HSA contribution
- Long- and short-term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid Time Off – Up to 22 days during first year of service
- Paid Sick Leave
- Sabbatical Leave
- Professional/continuing education support
- Retirement plan 403(b) match
- Artistic Studio Space
- Short term transitional housing available for rent
Employment requires successfully passing the pre-employment Background Check.
All inquiries and conversations will remain strictly confidential.
NOTE: The above is an abbreviated representation of benefits defined in the Employee Handbook, which governs all employment terms. No other verbal or written exceptions to those terms are honored without a written directive by the President and Chief Executive Officer and signed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
How to Apply:
Submit a complete application online at: andersonranch.slideroom.com
Application materials to include:
- Resume/CV
- Letter of intent indicating potential and desire for the position
- 10 images of current work
- Three references and contact information
Review of applications begins Oct 1, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Dates of Employment: January 5, 2024 – January 31, 2027.
Anderson Ranch is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce.
