Latinx Teaching-Artist Fellowship


Extended Application Deadline Monday, May 6, 2024

Root Division is currently seeking applicants for the 2024-25 Latinx Teaching-Artist Fellowship (LTAF). Application process includes submitting completed Fellowship Application Form and required materials. Finalists must be available between June 3-13, 2024 for interviews.


ABOUT THE LATINX TEACHING ARTIST FELLOWSHIP

In its 15th year, the fellowship provides 1-2 Latinx artists with free studio workspace and stipends in exchange for being an integral part of Root Division’s Studios Program. In large part, the commitment involves teaching multiple classes two afternoons per week at Mission Education Center (MEC), a K-5 newcomer school for children who have recently emigrated from Latin America to San Francisco.

Working as teaching-artists in residence for the full school year, LTAFs develop and facilitate projects in our My Two Homes curriculum, which guides students in discussions, story-telling, and art-making around their transition to a new home in the U.S. Instruction at MEC is entirely in Spanish, so LTAFs are expected to be fluent in both English and Spanish.

In exchange for an average of 20 hours per month of service with a focus on teaching in our Youth Education Program, the artist will receive:

  • Free studio workspace for 12 months in our Studios Program facility located at 1131 Mission Street, SF.  (Value of ~$6,000; 24-hour access workspace including all utilities/WiFi). 
  • Artist/ Teaching Stipend of $5,000 (Portions paid quarterly based on project milestones)
  • Meetings with a co-selected mentor in the field
  • Studios Program opportunities including:
    • Access to a network of peers and resources for creative and professional development
    • Exhibiting in Root Division’s galleries/ project space
    • Option to participate in Root Division’s DEI Advisory Committee of Board, Staff, and Studio Artists

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong LTAF candidates…

  • Demonstrate quality and commitment in their art-making and studio practice
  • Have a minimum of one year of experience teaching or facilitating projects with groups. A strong teaching portfolio includes culturally responsive curriculum/ lessons.
  • Have a passion for working with and supporting under-resourced and/or marginalized groups.
  • Show enthusiasm for working individually and collaboratively to serve the community.
  • For LTAFs: Instruction at MEC is entirely in Spanish, so LTAFs need strong bilingual communication skills (English and Spanish).

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

  • Have reliable transportation to and plan to make regular use of a studio at our location in SOMA, San Francisco, CA

COMMITMENT

Awarded LTAF will be asked to commit to an average of 20 volunteer hours per month to the organization from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with the potential to continue the fellowship for a second year. This includes:

  • Time making artwork in the studio
  • A minimum of 1-2 weekday afternoons per week to teach from Sept 2024 through May 2025
  • Helping produce and attending the New Growth student showcase on May 10, 2025
  • Helping produce the My Two Homes booklet.
  • Monthly All Artist Meetings (one Wednesday evening per month: July 2024-June 2025)
  • Attending & supporting two fundraising events: Art Auction (Oct 2024) & Spring event (Apr 2025)

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Application Materials

Please complete the Digital Application Form, attaching the below documents:

  1.  Cover Letter (PDF 1 page max): Please introduce yourself. Tell us why you are interested in this fellowship and the Root Division community. What do you hope to gain and how do you hope to contribute?
  2. Artist resume and/or Professional resume. (PDF 1-2 page max)
  3. Examples of your artwork (up to 10 images), with a corresponding image info. (Ideally the images and info are compiled and attached into a single PDF at 10MB max.)
  4. Artist Statement about your artwork (as seen in images submitted).
  5. Examples of student work (6-8 images and/or video documentation) from 2-3 successful projects in which you worked with children or youth. (Ideally the images and info are compiled and attached into a single PDF at 10MB max.)
  6. Two example lesson plans for art projects, indicating the appropriate target grade level(s), between K-8. A strong teaching portfolio includes culturally responsive curriculum/ lessons. (See our lesson plan examples here.)

The application process includes submitting completed Fellowship Application Form and required materials. Finalists must be available between June 3-13, 2024 for interviewing with Root Division’s Artist Selection Committee.

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT & LEARN MORE

We encourage fellowship applicants to learn more about Root Division

ABOUT ROOT DIVISION:

Root Division is a visual arts non-profit that provides discounted and free studio space to emerging visual artists in exchange for volunteer service in the community. Our mission is to empower artists, inspire youth, foster community service, and enrich the Bay Area through engagement in the visual arts. At Root Division, we are committed to creating and supporting an inclusive, accessible organization that intentionally brings together diverse groups of artists and audiences. We condemn and do not tolerate racist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic, sexist, or xenophobic attitudes, structures, or behaviors. 

* The Latinx Teaching Artist Fellowship (LTAF) is supported in part by a grant from the Fred Craves Family Foundation.

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