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Job Title: Studio Director
Reports To: Deputy Director
Status: Full-time, (40 hrs/wk)
Salary: $48,000 – $52,000
Location: Providence, RI
Application Due Date: Rolling; position will be open until filled
Benefits: Healthcare, dental plan, excellent vacation policy, retirement benefits

About New Urban Arts
New Urban Arts is a nationally recognized community-based art studio and gallery for high school students. Since 1997, we have served over 7,000 Providence teens and 200 artists. Each year, our public programs reach over 2,000 visitors and participants. Our mission is to build a vital community that empowers young people as artists and leaders to develop a creative practice they can sustain throughout their lives. We provide programs at two sites: our storefront art studio and nearby Central High School. Our core program, Youth Mentorship in the Arts, brings Providence public high school students together with local artists, building powerful mentoring relationships through the arts. Notably, the program is open-door, drop-in, and student-driven. Other programs include summer programs and post-secondary advising.

Overview
The Studio Director is responsible for our storefront studio programs. They lead year-round programs for high school students and artist mentors, including the Youth Mentorship in the Arts program. They connect with the community (high school students, artist-mentors, parents, and school personnel) to create a learning environment that conveys a sense of belonging, risk, and responsibility. They manage and supervise the studio program team and work closely with the deputy director to assess the effectiveness and ensure the feasibility of programs. They strive to foster a rewarding workplace that is stimulating, trusting, and results-oriented, where the mission of New Urban Arts can thrive.

The Ideal Candidate
Our ideal team member is a self-motivated, creative individual with a deep commitment to building community through creative practice and mentoring relationships. They have strong leadership, management, and communication skills. New Urban Arts looks for team members who believe in a transparent, relational, and positive culture where all voices are heard. Our team is excited to work with someone who has a strong understanding of racial and queer justice and youth development, and who is comfortable working with a diverse network of artists in a highly collaborative studio community. Directors at New Urban Arts lead with inquiry and curiosity.

Responsibilities
Create a culture and environment in which young people, artists, and educators can grow and thrive:

• Ensure that every youth enrolled in our programs is offered support whenever necessary and encouraged to develop a consistent, stable relationship with an adult mentor.
• Ensure that all students, staff, and guests feel welcome and safe.
• Sustain a positive work environment and culture as a learning community.
• Lead community building efforts, studio celebrations, and traditions to further develop meaningful relationships between high school students, artists, and educators.

Ensure New Urban Arts’ educational programs at 705 Westminster Street are designed and delivered to meet the highest standards:

• Manage and supervise studio program staff (8) and volunteers (12-15).
• Design and implement program strategies so that New Urban Arts’ programs work toward the organizational mission and educational goals, embody its values, and satisfy obligations to funders.
• Manage and implement the recruitment, professional development, and evaluation of artists and educators.
• Infuse New Urban Arts’ programs with the best ideas from community-based arts education field, youth development field, and contemporary artistic work.
• Develop and pilot new programs and initiatives as needed.
• Run youth leadership development programs and support youth-led activities.
• Cultivate existing relationships and implement strategies that will maximize the synergies among program areas.
• Lead the design and use of storefront studio space to reflect and embody the values of New Urban Arts.

Engage our constituents, stakeholders, and the broader community in support of and participation in New Urban Arts’ programs:

• Seek out and build partnerships and opportunities that are beneficial to New Urban Arts’ programs and students.
• Manage ongoing recruitment and engagement of high school students.
• Collaborate with the NUA Knights Site Director, who is responsible for programs at Central High School.

Along with the Deputy Director:

• Set annual program plan, including goals, outcomes, indicators, and calendar.
  Support program evaluation, including measuring the diversity of the student body, attendance, and impact.
• Ensure that the physical studio is safe and that safety measures are in place for students and volunteers.
• Support advancement efforts for future program growth.
  Manage program budget.
• Support other organizational efforts as necessary.

Qualifications:

• A commitment to New Urban Arts’ mission and values.
• Five years of experience in a director-level position with similar responsibilities OR an advanced degree in education, arts management or related field and three years of experience.
• Experience working directly with low-income BIPOC high school students in a community setting.
• Experience in youth development practices, ideally including restorative justice, conflict mediation, and youth mental health first aid.
• An understanding of implicit bias.
• A proven track record in building and maintaining relationships across a wide spectrum of personalities and professions, with a focus on team and individual staff development.
• Volunteer management experience.
• Ability to listen and inspire others through clear, direct, and consistent written and verbal communications, including managing shared schedules and calendars.
• Strong organizational skills.
• An ability to work in a fast-paced environment with young people and adults.
• An ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a drop-in studio environment.
• Flexibility, inclusiveness, responsiveness and solutions-focus.
• Familiarity with various data systems for tracking student outcomes.

Unsure if your qualifications exactly match what we are looking for? We encourage you to apply! The application is not overly burdensome and we would love to know what makes you excited about this opportunity!

To apply:
E-mail resume, and cover letter (two pages max) to Business Manager Jeannie Castillo-LaPierre, jeannie@newurbanarts.org, subject: Studio Director. In your cover letter, please tell us why you want this position and why you’d be a good fit. No calls please. Send resume and cover letter as two separate attachments; do not include them in the body of your email. PDF is the preferred file format.

New Urban Arts is an equal opportunity employer; BIPOC candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.