Teaching Artist - Photography

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Background

Through its free photography programs, the Josephine Herrick Project (JHP) works to transform the lives of individuals facing social, physical, and economic barriers in life. We partner with schools, human service agencies, health care facilities, libraries, and community organizations to deliver customized and hands-on digital photography courses taught by professional photographers and teaching artists. For JHP participants, the camera is a transformative tool, helping individuals build self-confidence and visual literacy, think creatively and critically, engage actively with their communities, tell their own stories, and advocate for themselves, effecting change in their own lives and the world around them.

The Josephine Herrick Project was established in 1941 by pioneer photographer, Josephine Herrick. Her work with active duty soldiers and veterans during and since WWII highlights the power of photography to transform lives. Working in VA hospitals, as well as Medical and Veterans Centers, Herrick taught photography as part of a holistic rehabilitation program for disabled service personnel. With the success of her efforts, the organization has expanded to serve the diversity of populations and organizations we work with today, which includes, but is not limited to:  Veterans, Youth, Senior Citizens, Individuals with Disabilities, Immigrants, and Adults with Alzheimer’s.

 

Position Description

JHP Teaching Artists are practicing artists who work as independent contractors with JHP to facilitate customized courses in digital photography and visual storytelling for our partner organizations. Working with a Teaching Assistant and resources provided by the Josephine Herrick Project, Teaching Artists design and facilitate an introductory photography program that is appropriate, relevant, and engaging for their student population, guiding students in the completion of a culminating visual project. Courses generally meet weekly for 1-2 hours, lasting anywhere from 6-16 weeks. All classes are currently meeting online.
 

Responsibilities

Attend the JHP training when offered and a planning meeting with the partner organization

Adapt JHP’s Core Curriculum for your program context and submit a detailed syllabus to the Director of Programs in advance of the course

Facilitate online photography sessions, using a student-centered, experiential model and ensuring all students are engaged and learning

Teach students basic camera functions and techniques in lighting, composition, and visual literacy

Facilitate regular peer critiques and discussions about images

Regularly upload and review student work, sending the best images to JHP for a final exhibition

Supervise  and support the professional development of a Teaching Assistant

Ensure that students complete and submit Enrollment Forms, Waivers, and Course Evaluations

Communicate regularly with the Director of Programs about progress, needs, and challenges

Serve as an ambassador for the Josephine Herrick Project when at partner organizations
 

Qualifications

Experience as a professional photographer and/or teaching artist is required. B.A. / M.A. in a related field, preferred

Experience working with any of JHP’s specialized populations (listed above) is desired

Commitment to JHP’s mission of photography as a transformative tool for storytelling, advocacy, self-expression, and community engagement

Flexibility and willingness to adapt and adjust on the fly

Must be reliable and punctual

Ability to teach and navigate through Zoom or Google Meets

Ability to commit for the entire duration of the program

Fluency in Mandarin or Cantonese is highly desirable

 

Benefits

This is an hourly, part-time, independent contractor position

Starting pay is $35/hr, and $40/hr for teachers who have participated in our professional development workshop and taught with JHP for at least one program

Network with other teaching artists and photographers

Access to JHP’s trainings, professional development workshops, and digital resource library