Tempe’s Studio Artists Program is looking for a visual artist for a three-year residency to grow arts literacy and ignite creative vibrancy in school communities. 

This partnership between Tempe Elementary District and the city of Tempe provides students with an opportunity to experience quality arts programming and provide personal studio space for the artists, a city release explained.

Established 25 years ago, the Studio Artists Program is a partnership between Tempe Community Arts and Tempe Elementary School District #3. 

This residency supports professional artists by offering workshop stipends and full-time access to studio space, the release stated. Each year, the program serves 5,000 students by providing visual arts instruction to every 2-5 grade classroom in 17 schools.

This program expands students’ understanding of the arts and allows them to interact with professional artists from the local community. Artists work closely with city and district staff to develop four-hour visual arts workshops inspired by the artists’ expertise and style, which introduce students to relevant arts principles and activities, according to the release.

According to the release, interested applicants are expected to:

• Be available to teach workshops in different schools in the Tempe Elementary School District during the 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 school years.
• Upon selection, complete fingerprint clearance card application (reimbursement available).
• Develop a hands-on workshop that relates to the artist’s expertise and style with support.
• Prior to working in the schools, meet with city staff for workshop development for a minimum of four times at two hours each during the months of June and July.

Artists should live in Tempe or a surrounding city (i.e., Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Gilbert, etc.), have experience in teaching visual arts (i.e., workshops, adjunct, after school programs, etc.), have an interest in working with elementary school students, be actively creating visual artworks and have availability two days a week during school hours (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

During the residency, artists will be compensated $50 per one hour classroom visit, with 12-15 classroom visits four times per school year, the release stated. Workshops are held in school classrooms.

Additionally, artists in the program will have 24/7 access to art studio space in a district building in Tempe that is a shared space with up to two other artists. The studios do not currently support ceramic.

The timeline of the residency will be:

• May/June 2024 – Selected artists notified
• June 2024 – New artist orientation meetings & contract offer
• June/July 2024 – Workshop development with support & studio move-in
• August through May 2024-2025 – Workshops taught in classrooms

Interested artists can complete a questionnaire here and upload requested documents/files to apply. The city requests a resume/CV including recent teaching experience and accomplishments as an artist (up to two pages) along with five images of personal completed artwork (no student examples).

The deadline is open until filled, and the city will begin its next review of applications on Wednesday, May 14.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Community Arts Specialist Amanda McGlothern at amanda_mcglothern@tempe.gov. For more, click here.