WHO WE ARE
SkyART is a permanent fixture in the vibrant cultural landscape of Chicago’s South Side. Founded in 2001 with a mission to provide youth with an accessible, safe place to participate in quality visual arts programs at no cost, SkyART continues to fulfill its mission in South Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods, reaching young people through a rich variety of programs. Driving its mission, is a deep understanding of the transformative power of art and its capacity to enhance intellectual, emotional, and social development. SkyART is a foundation from which creativity grows and individuals flourish. Participants are invited into a world of imaginative possibilities and connections that go beyond the individual, to positively impact all of the communities where we work and the city as a whole.
WHAT WE DO
Founded by an Art Therapist, SkyART uses art to communicate, to connect and to heal. Through interdisciplinary, process-based projects, skill-building workshops, and large-scale collaborations, SkyART encourages critical thinking and inspires creative expression for youth ages 7 to 24. When social distancing wasn’t an issue, SkyART used an artist-in-residence model, Teaching Artist worked side by side with youth, in an atmosphere of mutual esteem and shared curiosity, through our dynamic and experimental new methodology. Art Therapy has always been a part of our programs but now, more than ever, we see the need for it. We believe connecting with our youth through the arts with a trained therapist will play an instrumental role in healing and rebuilding our community.
HOW YOU CONTRIBUTE
The SkyART Art Therapist will work effectively with the realities of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), have knowledge of its effects on low income communities and how to work virtually to help young people address issues of isolation and trauma. Art therapists will refer to public health psychosocial guidelines during a pandemic, promoting self-care, artistic expression and inspiration, challenging stigma, securing family connections, monitoring secondary traumatic stress, developing coping and resilience, maintaining relationships, and amplifying hope.
JOB DUTIES
● Provide and customize virtual art therapy individual and group sessions to meet organizational goals and/or objectives for specific populations, such as those in detention facilities, shelters, or home environments.
● Assess participants’ needs, using drawing, painting, sculpting, or other artistic processes.
● Conduct art therapy sessions providing guided self-expression experiences to help participants recover from or cope with emotional impairments due the current Shelter in Place order
● Use SkyART wellness rubric to analyze or synthesize data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for future art therapy sessions.
● Document sessions using SkyART forms
● Establish goals or objectives for art therapy sessions in consultation with Executive Director and Programs team
● Recommend or purchase needed art supplies or equipment for sessions.
● Possibly conduct workshops on art therapy techniques and/or processes to Teaching Artists, interns, volunteers and staff.
YOUR BACKGROUND INCLUDES:
● MA in Art Therapy or social service degree with a visual art background required
● Cultural competency working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
● Detailed-oriented with excellent communication, organizational, interpersonal and writing skills
● Practicing artists encouraged
WHAT WE OFFER: Part-Time/ Contractual
HOW YOU APPLY
Please submit a cover letter with resume by email to programs@skyart.org with ”Art Therapist” in the subject line. Do not mail or fax.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
SkyART is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SkyART does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.