Summer Camp Teaching Artist

DEPARTMENT: Learning and Engagement
SUPERVISOR: Manager of Youth and Family Programs

Education is fundamental to the mission of the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA). We seek to provide quality art learning opportunities throughout the greater Birmingham area, improving the cultural and social well-being of our community. Our enriching summer art camp series is a part of this mission and continues to nurture the youth in our area and encourage creativity, exploration, innovation, and imagination.

In 2025, BMA Summer Art Camp will strive to engage every child from the budding to master artist. Campers will learn about the artistry and craftsmanship required to produce different art forms under the guidance of camp staff to create fun new projects daily. Museum educators will inspire campers through tactile lessons, exhibitions, and gallery tours where they will learn about different mediums, styles, and processes of artists with works in the museum’s collection. Our skilled art instructors will then provide guidance for crafting fun new projects.

Skills needed for BMA’s 2025 summer camps:

The ability to:

  •  Planage appropriate art projects and  activities for grouped grade levels from 1st-high school
  • Provide a planned and thoughtful program
  • Multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
  • Manage and delegate duties to camp counselor staff
  • Develop students’ art techniques in drawing, painting, sculpture, fiber arts, etc.
  • Provide instruction on the use of media such as graphite, charcoal pencils, etc.
  • And more!

You may apply to teach more than one camp.

Camp Week Themes

  • BMA Adventurers – Behind the scenes look at working in a museum and exhibition creation
  • Budding Alabama Artists! – Exploration of all art mediums and Alabama artists.
  • Art Elements Creatives – Lessons in the basic elements of art and design.
  • Mixed Media Explorers – Exercises in various media arts including mixed media projects.
  • Elementary Fiber Arts – Introduction to textiles (knits vs wovens):
  • BMA Art Masters – Creation of student interpretation of BMA collection pieces.
  • Drawing – Build a foundation for drawing with different media, drawing techniques, and skills.
  • Sculpture in-depth – Learn about form, texture, and color while working with different materials such as clay, papier mache, and found objects.
  • Pottery – Explore the different processes of creating pottery!
  • Intermediate Fiber Arts – Lessons in crochet, embroidery, piecing, and sewing
  • Illustration – Lessons in using art as a form of storytelling through drawing, design, and illustration fundamentals.
  • Printmaking – Advanced experimentation and skill-building in the printmaking process.
  • Quilting – Advanced lesson in fiber arts for experienced sewers.
  • Portfolio development camp – Guidance for middle and high school students for fine arts program applications.

Minimum Qualifications

  • 1-2 years experience teaching children.
  • Bachelor’s degree in art education, studio art, education, or related field preferred. Continuing education certificates, certification, and commensurate experience will be taken into consideration
  • Experience in creating visual art lesson plans.
  • Experience working in an arts environment.
  • Outgoing and energetic personality.
  • Self-starter, strong at multi-tasking, highly organized, and dependable.
  • Ability to work with basic hand tools and comfortable working with their hands.
  • Comfortable and familiar with computers, both Mac and PC and with technical hardware (projectors, cables, monitors, remotes, etc.) or can be trained to familiarity.
  • Possess the skills to effectively and efficiently handle customer questions and concerns with the appropriate managers.

An offer of engagement is contingent upon verifying the accuracy of the information provided by the candidate and the background check results will determine his/her suitability for assignment at the BMA. Review of applications will be ongoing until the position is filled. Professional references will only be contacted after the initial interview is conducted, and references are required for this position. Please do not submit letters of recommendation in advance of the interview or have references call on your behalf.

Availability: Counselors must commit to a mandatory training session at least 30 days before the start of camp.

To Apply

Please upload a cover letter,  resume, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of two professional references

Cover letters should include the camp(s) in which you wish to teach, a description of your experience teaching and/or working with children, including the age group, and any experience you have with art education or fine arts

 

Apply Now

Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) to provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants for employment with the BMA and to BMA staff without regard to sex, race, color, religious belief, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotions, termination, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Commitment to Diversity
The Birmingham Museum of Art is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination. The BMA is a diverse community in terms of race and ethnicity, culture, religion, personal values and traditions. BMA values this diversity recognizing that our differences contribute to our strength as an agency serving a diverse population. It is to this end that the BMA is committed to non-discrimination and advocates for an environment of tolerance with regard to cultural and personal differences. It is our belief that every employee has the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and self-worth and that it is in our best interest as an agency serving the public good to act in a manner free of bias, exclusion, and discrimination whether on the basis of faith, race, gender, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political affiliation, or any other personal differences.