About Our Organization
Mission
Flower City Arts Center is a community-based not-for-profit organization that educates, encourages, and inspires all people to create and enjoy the visual arts, design, and media. We embrace the fact that the arts elevate humanity, are naturally therapeutic, and provide tools for expression in the language of the heart in a world that needs healing. Flower City Arts Center strives to create social change through arts, education, and creative entrepreneurship. We provide high-quality arts programs to the most in-need people in our community.
History
The Flower City Arts Center celebrated 50 years in 2020. Established in 1970, The Flower City Arts Center is housed in a historic firehouse constructed in 1895-1905. We are the only community visual arts center conveniently located within the City of Rochester. In 1974, the Arts Center was incorporated as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational institution. In addition to our staff and board, we have up to 20 artists-in-residence and many instructors, studio artists, volunteers, and interns.
What We Do: Art for All People!
We offer foundational arts in Printmaking & Book Arts (PABA) using vintage presses, letter sets, and traditional ink printing methods; bookbinding, papermaking, and marbling; Fine Arts like painting, drawing, mixed media art, and encaustics; Ceramics, using hand building, wheels, and kilns, and Photography offering a darkroom, professional lighting studio, cyanotype “silver den”, and more. This blends with modern tools, such as Digital Media through computer design, photography, videography, editing, digital and audio production, animation, music production, and risograph printing.
Flower City Arts Center serves young children up to the oldest community members throughout Rochester and the wider region. We have youth programs, such as Studio 678 Photo & Writing Club for city middle school (6th, 7th, and 8th grade) students, the oldest youth arts program in the Rochester area celebrating 25 years, and Expanding The Field (ETF), career and college arts for urban high school students (grades 9-12). These programs serve low-income young people of color who often fall through the cracks or are at risk from trauma and other life and family challenges.
Additionally, Flower City Arts Center runs specialized classes and inclusive programs for a wide array of people with varying physical and mental abilities. In recognition of our LGBTQIA+ community members and their allies, we are part of the Safe Space Alliance. We host diverse Artists-in-Residence all year and offer creative healing and therapeutic arts, studio space rental, three galleries with rotating public exhibits, workshops, lectures, classes, entrepreneurial projects, and memberships for the Greater Rochester Area. There are even international shows, such as our widely attended four-day Flower City Pottery Invitational, which invites potters and curators from around the country and the world.
Ongoing Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At the Flower City Art Center, we value and cultivate an environment composed of a variety of backgrounds, skills, and views. We believe that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion provide a platform for ongoing innovation in art education and acknowledge the importance of diverse representation in visual arts. We are a community that encourages all people to be respected, valued, included, and free to be one’s authentic selves. We are committed to Art for All People.
Job Summary
- Teach classes, workshops, custom programming, and private lessons in the Ceramics department
- Assist Studio Manager with kiln loading/unloading, glaze mixing, clay reclaim, equipment maintenance, and cleaning of studio
- Assist the Director with booking and maintaining custom program workflow
- Produce slipware for one-time classes and custom orders
- Help maintain a clean, orderly studio environment
Responsibilities
- Facilitate off-site and on-site custom programming
- Teach classes, workshops, and private lessons on an as-needed basis
- Assist in maintaining clean and organized studio spaces
- Develop new class and workshop offerings
- Teach youth classes and workshops
- Customer service help with facility tours and signing up for studio access
- Docent gallery exhibitions
- Assist with special events and exhibition installation, as needed
- Teach private lessons and private parties
- Host monthly “Try It” sessions
Job Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
- 2+ years experience teaching a range of ages and skill levels
- Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art, preferably in ceramics
- Extensive knowledge of at least one of our core disciplines – wheel throwing, handbuilding, ceramic jewelry, figure sculpture, sculpture
- Positive attitude, flexibility, team player
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
Knowledge/Skills Required:
- Basic knowledge of the ceramics field, including best practices for firing work, reclaiming clay, mixing glazes, and best safety practices
- Ability to teach a variety of processes and develop new curriculum
- Ability to maintain a clean and safe studio environment and model best practices to students and studio users
- Awareness and interest in contemporary ceramics
- Good customer service skills
- Ability to work with interruptions, to be a self-starter
Additional Details
Reports to: Kate Whorton, Director of Ceramics
Hours:
- 18 hours per week
- Available to work weekend or night-time hours
Benefits:
- Sick time accrual of 4 hours each per month, beginning after 3 months of employment
- Free classes at FCAC (space available).
- Access to Ceramics studios for personal work
- Materials at cost and staff firing rate
How to Apply
Please email your Cover Letter and Resume/CV to:
Kate Whorton
Director, Ceramics
kwhorton@flowercityarts.org