Workman Arts invites instructors to propose accessible and inclusive online courses for our 2022 Spring training program. Instructors will develop and teach workshops and classes for our artist membership, units at CAMH (as part of our Art Cart program in collaboration with Gifts of Light) and/or the greater Toronto Arts community with partner organizations.

Workman Arts provides multi-disciplinary, professional art workshops for and by artists with lived experience of mental health and/or addictions issues. Workman Arts aims to support member artists through community support, access to free studio space, materials, equipment, free art training as well as professional development and presentation opportunities.

We are looking for artists that have developed skills or technical experience in a range of disciplines that may include (but are not limited to): Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textile Art, Photography, Media Arts, Filmmaking, Podcasting, Animation, Performance, Theatre, Movement, Poetry, Prose, Playwriting, Songwriting and/or Music Composition.

We recognize all forms of knowledge acquisition and invite instructors from all backgrounds to apply; academic experience is not necessary. We prioritize hiring members or artists with lived experience.  To learn more about our membership, click here.

Please keep in mind that programs are intended to provide participating artists with guidance and support in their own creative pursuits or the chance to contribute to a larger collaborative process (rather than be in service to an Instructor’s sole artistic vision or project). Also, please note that Workman Arts is a non-clinical arts organization and we will not prioritize applications that are situated explicitly within an art therapy and/or clinically-based framework.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
HANAN HAZIME
EDUCATION MANAGER
416-583-4339, ext. 3
hanan_hazime@workmanarts.com

Art Cart is a partnership between Workman Arts and Gifts of Light, which pairs established Workman Arts member artists with CAMH client services to provide peer-to-peer arts instruction with an emphasis on skill development and creative exploration. These art workshops connect artists with lived experience of mental health and addiction issues with those currently in recovery through structured 10-week workshop series exploring a specific art medium in-depth and building a body of work. Each season of workshops concludes with an exhibit of work produced across all of the classes, and participating artists are given the option to select works to exhibit and sell. Art Cart engages participants in a process of creation that not only provides recreational richness, expressive agency and quality of life, but allows them to create pieces that are theirs to showcase and keep.

Art Cart classes are deeply treasured and appreciated by the participants and provide something really special in clinical settings. Teaching in the Art Cart program can be a bit different than teaching in the Workman Arts community or with community partners. Some things that an instructor might expect include:

  • Materials restrictions: many participants may have certain arts materials that they cannot use during recovery. We often need to be adaptable in the materials participants will use. Common materials restrictions include scissors or sharps, carving tools or long strings. Note that some groups have no restrictions at all, so you are still welcome to propose courses that include these materials.
  • Shorter class time: Art Cart classes are 45 minutes to 1 hour in length, depending on the group. This time can fly by very quickly, so classes well suited to the program will be able to set up rather quickly, get folks into the practice and wrap up on time.
  • Participant turnover: Some clinical partners will allow for a consistent group of participants across 10 weeks to really allow your group to build a practice and work on some longer term projects. Most groups, however, will have some turnover – either having new participants each time, or some new and some returning. Classes well suited to the program will be able to suit both new and returning participants.

If you are interested in teaching as part of the Art Cart program, please indicate that in your proposal. There will be a field that will allow you to comment on how your course would be flexible for these differences.

  • Paid teaching opportunities during the Spring (April 2022) term(s) at Workman Arts, Art Cart, and/or partner sites
  • Free access to training and professional development opportunities
  • Community-based peer support from artists who have mental health experiences
  • Access to Zoom Pro for planning and running courses
  • Access to equipment and/or gear for teaching, temporary digital storage space

Click here to apply online.

Workman Arts also invites applicants to submit their applications in the following format:

  • Paper sent by mail
  • Oral format*
  • ASL

*This includes: an interview by phone or video conferencing (Zoom, Skype, or Meet), a voice recording (MP3 or WAV), or a video recording (MP4, AVI, or MOV)

Applicants who would like to apply by mail, orally, or with ASL services can get in touch with the education manager before March 11th to make arrangements. Workman staff or a peer support may be assigned to help the applicant complete the submission process.

Applications will be assessed on the content itself and not be judged based on the format of the submission.

  • Apply by the deadline (March 11, 11:59 pm)
  • Workman Arts staff will review all applications and create a shortlist (by mid-March)
  • Final decisions will be made by Workman Arts staff (by March 15th)
  • Instructors will be confirmed (by March 15th)

Workman Arts is an equal opportunity organization. We welcome applications from racialized people, people with disabilities, and people of any sexual orientation and gender expressions. Please indicate in your application whether you identify under any of these groups.