Winter Studio Assistant
Position Details:
- Classification: Temporary Part/Full-Time, Non-Exempt
- Reports to: Esther Nooner, Workshop Program Manager
- Dates: January 5th, 2024 – April 26, 2024
- Housing: Supplied by the Ranch with a rental cost, see below
- Pay Rate: $20/hour
- Hours Per Week: 20-25 hours in Artistic Studios. 5-10 hours in additional departments (optional)
Winter Studio Assistant Description:
The Winter Studio Assistants at Anderson Ranch Arts Center work directly under the Studio Coordinator and Artistic Director of their area. There will be 1 Winter Studio Assistant, 5 total, hired in each of the following areas:
- Ceramics
- Photography & New Media
- Painting/Drawing + Children’s / Community Outreach
- Wood/Digital Fabrication
- Sculpture (3D Floater)
Position Summary:
The duties of the Studio Assistant are, but not limited to, assisting program participants such as Artists in Residence and Visiting Artists in the studios, maintaining cleanliness and organization of all equipment and supplies, assisting with inventory, keeping track of supplies used by program participants for invoicing, helping with other organizational events including Children’s after school Art Break programs, help set up for Residency events, assist in gallery installations among other duties.
Specific Area Core Responsibilities:
Photography & New Media
- Photography & New Media Winter Studio Assistant will support all winter and spring programs in the Photography area such as: Facilitated Studio Practice, the Spring Artist-In-Residence program, field trips, and other special events providing support in digital and analog studios.
- They assist the Studio Coordinator in the day to day upkeep of studios, support participants with projects, troubleshoot computer and printer problems, weekly evening lab monitoring, performing general lab/building maintenance (including weekends) and gathering materials for demonstrations.
- Assistants will have a strong technical understanding of camera gear, digital and film capture, digital workflow using Photoshop, Lightroom and Epson printers. Attention to detail and desire to learn is a must. Experience teaching or assisting in photography or a digital media course is highly desirable. Additional knowledge of Processing or other coding languages, general computer maintenance, the Adobe Creative Suite Design Premium, Final Cut Pro and slide and flatbed scanners is also helpful.
- Other duties might include assisting other areas, Ranch wide events and other team oriented tasks.
Ceramics
- The Ceramic Studio Assistant will support all winter and spring programs in the Ceramics area such as: Facilitated Studio Practice, the Spring Artist-In-Residence program, field trips, and other special events.
- The Studio Assistant can expect to clean, organize, and maintain the ceramic studio on a daily basis as their main focus.
- Assistants will be knowledgeable about firing electric and gas kilns. They will load, fire, and unload kilns as specified by the Ceramic Coordinator.
- They will work closely with the Ceramics Coordinator to prepare materials, mix glazes, mix slips and reclaim clay as needed.
- Other duties might include assisting other areas, Ranch wide events and other team oriented activities.
Painting and Drawing /Children’s and Community Engagement
- The Studio Assistant will support all winter and spring programs in the Painting, Drawing, & Printmaking Program at Anderson Ranch such as: Facilitated Studio Practice, the spring Artists-In-Residence program, field trips, and other special events. The studio assistant can expect to clean, organize, and maintain the studios on a daily basis as their main focus, facilitate dialogues with students, residents, visiting artists and faculty. The Studio Assistant will conduct administrative tasks such as: inventory, facilitating online programming, spreadsheet layout and other related tasks.
- Candidates should have knowledge of painting techniques and/or a significant background in printmaking and workflow of an active community print shop and be detail-oriented. This position requires a well-rounded candidate who can work well with people of all ages but can also effectively self-motivate and work independently. Painting and Drawing Assistants should feel comfortable floating between the painting studios and the print shop. An understanding of the Adobe Suite and spreadsheet layout is a plus.
- As the role also includes working in the Children’s and Community Engagement Program, a hybrid assistant must have experience working with children and is able to work with a variety of age groups and to adapt quickly while working across two different departments. The assistant will provide support for on-site and off-site youth programming as it connects to Anderson Ranch, or other partnerships with local nonprofits and schools. This may include, field trips, after school workshops, art breaks, family programming, and general workshop preparation and care for children. This position includes assistance in the Children’s and Community Engagement Program for 5 to 20 hours a week, depending on the programming schedule and timeline.
- The assistant reports to both the Studio Coordinator of Painting, Drawing, & Printmaking, and the Youth & Community Engagement Manager.
Digital Fabrication/Wood & Furniture/Sculpture
- The Studio Assistant will support all winter and spring programs in Digital Fabrication, Wood and Sculpture Program at Anderson Ranch such as: Facilitated Studio Practice, the spring Artists-In-Residence program, field trips, and other special events. They learn to assist program participants with output and troubleshoot their projects as well as how to maintain, service and run all equipment in Anderson Ranch’s Digital Fabrication Lab.
- Proficiency with CAD software such as Rhinoceros or Fusion 360, as well as Adobe Suite is highly desirable.
- The Digital Fabrication Lab includes FDM and SLA 3-D printers, 3-D scanners, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, and 4-axis CNC routers. Experience with these types of machines is preferable but not required.
- Other duties might include assisting other areas, Ranch wide events and other team oriented activities.
Expected Skills & Qualifications:
- Proven knowledge and experience in their designated area.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Professionalism in all studio and event settings.
- Ability to understand and implement all Anderson Ranch Safety protocols put in place by leadership staff.
- Desire to engage in the Anderson Ranch Arts Center artistic community.
Physical Requirements:
- Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
- Moderate to heavy work that includes moving objects up to 30-50 pounds.
- The employee frequently is required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms.
- Typical tasks as required to actively work and supervise in art studios/facilities in a historic building space with uneven surfaces, stairs, gravel walkways, etc.
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.
- 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.
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 job description may be changed or updated at any time throughout employment.
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:
Please submit the following to hr@andersonranch.org :
- A one-page cover letter stating which area you are applying for and explaining why you would be a good fit for this position and how you can contribute to our programs.
- ONE PDF of a cover letter, Resume/CV and 5-7 images of your work attached
- Supplemental Application Form
Please put Winter Studio Assistant Application in the email subject line to be considered for this position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until each area is filled.
Anderson Ranch is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce.
