Artist-In-Residence

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

Fixed term contract for 1 academic year

September 2023 to July 2024

36.5 hrs per week / 39 weeks per year

Actual Salary: £21,163 - £23,248 pa

(FTE £25,012 -£27,477 based on 37 hours / 52 weeks pa)

Are you a practicing Artist who welcomes the challenge of working with students in groups and individually? Would you like to help and encourage young people with special needs to develop their artistic opportunities, fine-motor skills and creativity? We are looking for an Artist-in-Residence to work in our school and college for the academic year 2023-24.

Every year we welcome Creatives with different specialisms to help inspire our students. We have had painters, a musician / composer and most recently, a puppeteer! This year we are open to receiving applications in any medium, and are most concerned to find a creative who would work best with neuro diverse young people. We are particularly interested in mixed media and textile artists. A flexible approach to creative practice is needed, interest in drama and performance would also be welcomed.

You would be the eighth artist in residence, following a legacy of fine artists and musicians who have made significant impact towards the creative well-being of our students. This is an incredible opportunity for the right person, for a capable creative practitioner who also has a real empathy and interest in the well-being of SEN students.

You would be working on your own practice from the studio on site, allowing students and staff who pass by to occasionally observe your expertise, thus demonstrating the importance of the Arts as a valid career pathway as well as a meaningful hobby. You would also provide 10 hours a week (FT) student 1:1 time and run periodic training for staff.

You would be part of a dynamic ambitious Creative Arts team and would be expected to contribute towards a range of exciting creative events throughout the year. The culmination of the residency would be an exhibition in summer 2024 and a piece of art that you would then contribute to the school as part of your legacy. Applicants must have a portfolio that highlights past and current practice and includes details of plans for future projects comprising what they would work on during their residency at the Trust.

St Joseph’s Specialist Trust is a special school, college, children’s home and adult supported living houses. Our main site is located in Cranleigh, Surrey, midway between Guildford and Horsham. Our students are age 5-19 with severe social communication difficulties and complex learning disabilities. With your compassion, empathy and guidance, you will help them develop their creativity, relative to their complex needs. Physical and mental resilience are qualities required by all our staff.

If you are recruited, you will be required to complete Team Teach positive behaviour support training as part of your induction before employment*. Ideally, hours of attendance each week will be 8.30am – 4pm Monday, 8.30am – 4.15pm Tuesday to Thursday and 8.30am – 3.45pm on Friday during term time only (35.5 hours per week). However, there is some flexibility regarding the hours depending on the circumstances and commitments of the artist. Very occasional evening and weekend work may be required as part of these contracted hours; equally the Trust is prepared to allow an element of flexibility for the successful applicant to undertake other professional commitments (with the equivalent amount of time being made up either evening/weekends/school holiday working). Holiday must be taken during the school holidays. This can be discussed if invited to interview.

Why St Joseph’s?

• Tasty free hot lunch during term time
• Ample free car parking on site
• Employee assistance service (confidential, professional wellbeing and counselling 24/7 service)
• Excellent network of support across the organisation including a team of Adult Mental Health Firs Aid and Occupational Health
• Life Assurance and Medical Cashplan
• Discount on gym, swim and classes at Cranleigh Leisure Centre
• Induction programme including Safeguarding and Team Teach Positive Behaviour Support Training
• Based on a beautiful 23 acre site in Cranleigh, half way between Horsham and Guildford, on the edge of the Surrey Hills.

Own transport is desirable due to the semi-rural location of the school