Institution Artist/Facilitator
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
Under general direction, to function as a resident artist and/or arts program facilitator for one or more correctional institutions or hospitals housing mentally disabled patients; and to do other related work.
Typical Tasks
As distinguished from resident artists located at institutions/hospitals through grants, the Artist/Facilitator represents the arts program and gives that program a breadth beyond the Artist/Facilitator's own arts discipline; serves as a local artist for one or more correctional institution/State hospital, doing art and performing arts processes that involve residents (inmates, patients, wards, etc.) in the arts; presents arts programming to institutional residents/State hospital patients and staff; accomplishes those tasks necessary for setting up studios and workshops and coordinates support for the creative processes.
As a graphics (visual) artist, sets up arts studios, and with residents/patients produces pieces for a show; (or) as a literary artist, writes and locates written works of other institutional writers (pieces that could be used in an anthology to be printed by that institution); (or) as a dramatist, directs the writing, rehearsal and performance of a play or creative dramatic production; (or) as a musician, forms musical groups to perform work inside or outside of the institution/hospital.
Emphasizes the ethnic and cultural diversity of particular institutions/hospitals; identifies and facilitates using arts resources available from local public or private community resources; represents the arts program at institutional/State hospital staff meetings; facilitates the functioning of artists of other disciplines in the institution/hospital.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Two years of experience as a practicing professional artist or as an artist- (craftsperson)-in-residence in one of the following arts disciplines: Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Media Arts, Graphic Arts or a closely related field. and
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Arts organizations, artists, and arts resources; institutional/hospital goals and objectives in the arts program; program needs and procedures for fulfilling those needs.
Ability to: Conduct arts workshops and/or classes for inmates; speak and write clearly and concisely; interpret and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures in an institution/hospital; develop and operate an arts program within an institution/hospital; develop and maintain a cooperative relationship with institutional/hospital staff, inmates/patients, and community arts representatives and organizations and artists; effectively communicate arts program needs and objectives to institutional/hospital staff; effectively communicate institutional/hospital needs and objectives to artists.
Additional Desirable Qualifications
Group experience in teaching art, demonstrating art or in performing arts is preferred.
