Creativity Lab Studio Teaching Artist

Inner-City Arts is an oasis of learning, creativity and achievement in the heart of Skid Row, and a vital partner in the work of creating a safer, healthier Los Angeles. Since its inception, Inner-City Arts has provided hands-on arts instruction to over 210,000 public school students and 10,000 educators in the Los Angeles area. Every year, more than 5,000 elementary and middle school students — from among the most underserved urban neighborhoods in Los Angeles — receive high-quality creative experiences during the school day on the Inner-City Arts campus.  More than 1,000 middle and high school students engage in workshops at Inner-City Arts after school, on weekends and during the summer. In all this time, Inner-City Arts has partnered with LAUSD to provide transformational learning that meets the needs of inner-city students.

The Creativity Lab was created by Bob Bates, co-founder and artistic director of Inner-City Arts, and supported by The Walt Disney Company. Its central purpose is to encourage students to pursue tasks and challenges using the 21st century skills of collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.  

The Creativity Lab uses a variety of simple materials such as wood, wire, plastic, metal, paper and cardboard to create complex kinetic and sculptural objects designed to stimulate the creative abilities and problem solving skills of our students. The projects we create are more in the realm of engineering and industrial designs.  Though often sculptural, they are more technically based than visual arts based with very little painting and drawing in the traditional sense. Representative projects include:  simple hand crank machines, Rube Goldberg devices, marble runs, decorative balancing sticks and other projects that combine design materials with scientific processes to solve problems and foster collaboration. 

In the Creativity Lab. we use the scientific method: to Test—Evaluate—Adjust the Designs we are creating.   Projects are designed to facilitate exploration and experimentation on the part of the students. Our students have the opportunity to use power and machine tools in their creations and frequently work in teams to create group projects.  Students achieve an understanding that mistakes, improvisation, and exploration are part of the creative process.

Applicants for the Creativity Lab position should have a passion for tinkering, inventing and building with extensive “making” skills in wood and metal and other sculptural materials  A knowledge and facility with machine tools such as band saws, drill presses, jigsaws, 3D printers and hand tools is highly desired.  Skills in the use of metal lathes, milling machines and laser cutter tools, etc. is a plus.

Applicants should have a passion for problem solving and team work, geared toward creating new projects and challenges for students 4th grade and above.  Future directions for the Creativity Lab include explorations in architectural and industrial design, toy-making, robotics and both functional and decorative arts.  

Inner-City Arts is seeking a creative individual with Maker Movement experience, focused on “learner-centered,”learning-by-doing processes that combine artistry, exploration, and craftsmanship to teach in the Creativity Lab.  The Teaching Artist ’s primary role will be to partner with our Artistic Director and co-founder Bob Bates to lead a team of creative, inventive, committed people and deliver a unique curriculum in the art studio/maker space/science -lab environment.

The Creativity Lab Teaching Artist would serve as the studio lead for a team of other Teaching Artists and studio staff within a flexible, cooperative environment, and as a member of the Creativity Lab’s team.  He/she should uphold the values of artistic and scientific exploration as expressed in the philosophy and values of the program.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Required experience: minimum Bachelor’s degree in an arts-related field.

• Established practice in the process of “making,” creating, and inventing.

• An ideal candidate would have an Early Childhood Education or Childhood Education background with a foundational understanding and education in child development and how it affects participation in the creative process.

• Proven track record of a commitment to youth ages 8-18 with a minimum of six years teaching experience in either school or community settings.    

• Mechanical ability a must—able to operate both hand and power tools.  Awareness of best practices for safety for both adults and children.

• Experience integrating technology into the curriculum (3-D printing, robotics, virtual reality)

• Knowledge of and implementation experience in STEAM curriculum.  

• Demonstrated experience in Curriculum Development.  

• Demonstrated experience in research and development of new student projects in educational practice.  

• Understanding and articulation of VAPA and CCS Standards.  

• A commitment to diversity, and effectively working with diverse participants.

• Ability to take the initiative and work well with others compassionately.

HOURS:   FTE, 40 hours per week   

LOCATION:   Inner-City Arts is a contemporary, creative facility in the downtown Los Angeles Warehouse District, adjacent to the Produce Mart and Skid Row.

SALARY:  Commensurate with education and experience.

TO APPLY:  Please send a resume and letter of interest to the Hiring Committee, via email to,  artsedjobs@inner-cityarts.org with the subject "Creativity Lab Teaching Artist”.