We’re looking for an Art Tutor

We’re looking for an Art Tutor to bring people together, get creative and expressive. 

We’d like them to work for us 6 hrs a week over 2 sessions (2 hours contact/teaching each session).

Salary: £20 per hour – subcontracted /self-employed to be invoiced monthly

Grassmarket Community Project is a charitable organization based in the heart of the Old Town in Edinburgh. We provide support to many of the most vulnerable of our citizens through our activities and social enterprises. We are looking to recruit a part time (6 hours per week over 2 days) Art Tutor to join our team to deliver a programme of varied art and craft activities to our members.

The ideal person will be dynamic and innovative and ideally have experience of delivering structured classes to a range of people from diverse backgrounds and abilities. You should ideally be qualified in Art, Community Education or working towards this and must have previous experience of delivering activities or classes.

Reporting to the Service Manager, you will:

• Be responsible for the design and delivery of a varied and creative art programme for members based on their abilities
• Welcoming and warm to our members and promote inclusion
• Work alongside staff, students and volunteers to deliver the activities
• Evaluate activities and keep up to date records
• Uphold and promote the values and ethos of the Grassmarket Community Project

Please apply by sending your CV (maximum 4 pages) and a personal statement (maximum 2 pages) to [email protected] by Friday 11th December. Interviews week commencing 14th December.

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Art Tutor (Group Worker) – Job Description

Background

Grassmarket Community Project takes an innovative approach to providing sanctuary and support to participants many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable of our citizens. Through mentoring, social enterprise and education in a nurturing environment, the project develops skills enabling participants to develop to their full potential and reconnect with themselves, others and the wider community. Through mentoring, social enterprise, training and education in a nurturing environment, the project develops skills enabling participants to develop to their full potential and move away from cycles of failure.

Our vision is to create an environment where:

• People can realise their full potential and re-connect with themselves, others and the wider community.
• People feel valued and every person is given dignity.
• People feel cared about and can move towards independent living without feeling abandoned or isolated.
• People can be confident to trust and value their own decisions, overcoming a poverty of expectation and ultimately realising their own potential.
• People can build a life which reduces dependence on others, gaining self-reliance.
• There is a commitment to be involved with individuals, meeting and welcoming them within the local community.

Our project is based in the heart of the Old Town in Edinburgh, in the Grassmarket. We work with over 250 people and deliver on average 800 hours of support per month.

Key to the way we work is to break down the barrier between volunteers and clients – all are members and we encourage people who initially feel they are “clients” to become volunteers and therefore contribute to, rather than receive from the project.

Funding

The role of Art Tutor is being funded by Social Enterprise and donations – the contract is on month to month permanent basis.

Role Purpose

The purpose of the role of Art Tutor is to support the development of Grassmarket Community Project as a community where people can realise their full potential and re-connect with themselves others and the wider community.

They will design and deliver group activities in the arts; the post holder will work alongside volunteers to deliver a range of activities. They are not expecting to be an expert in all activity – simply the person who enables and encourages people to take part. The Art Tutor will provide a creative activity programme according to their own personal resources (skills, confidence and time) and organisational resources (budgets, staff, volunteers and members skills).

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

 Member Activities

• Design, develop and deliver group sessions in line with member feedback and strategic priorities
• Actively encourage members to participate fully in the your groups
• Encourage positive behaviour in groups and challenge inappropriate behaviour as required
• Signpost members to alternative sources of help available
• Offer support to individual members as required
• Engage with members to actively solicit and encourage their opinions and feedback
• Manage and organise group activities within the project as directed
• Ensure that practical arrangements are in place to support the programme
• Recruit and identify lead volunteers
• Provide training and support to lead volunteers

Art Group

• Provide the technical experience, knowledge of a range of creative activities and techniques to suggest, guide and support members to members to participate and express themselves artistically.
• Liaise with volunteers and staff to support the group development
• Design and communicate a plan for each session and the term with built in flexibility and alternatives

Learning and Development

• Identify opportunities for members to engage in further learning
• Develop working partnerships with agencies, donors and supporters to source learning opportunities and wider engagement such as gallery visits on line or visiting artists or curators or educational teams.

 Monitoring & Evaluation

• Maintain clear and accurate records
• Complete or ensure the completion of Evaluations for every session.
• Attend team meetings
• Attend one-to-one supervision a minimum of twice a term (this is included in the 3 hours per session average)
• Provide information required for funding applications and monitoring

General

• Manage a varied workload with, at times limited resources, requiring a creative and flexible approach.
• Manage resources allocated to their service
• Provide assistance with Fundraising applications as required
• Assist with presentations to external groups or visitors as required
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as defined by the Service Manager or SMT Team

Line Management

• The post holder reports to the Service Manager
• The post holder has no direct reports but will supervise volunteers and students

Terms and Conditions

Location:                     86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh (other locations as required)

Reports to:                  Service Manager

Annual Leave:             None – unpaid by negotiation – preferably out with term time (e.g. 2 weeks Christmas, 2 weeks Easter and 4 weeks Summer)

Hours:                         6 per week

Salary:                         £20.00 an hour

 Art Tutor – Personal Specification and Critical Competencies 

Critical Competencies
Ability to relate to people who have experienced homelessness and/or have issues with addiction, mental health, repeat offending, disability etc. Ability to provide individuals with appropriate information, practical help and emotional support in a sensitive and non-judgemental and personable manner. Commitment to working within the ethos of the Grassmarket Community Project Experience of working with vulnerable people in a community setting Ability to effectively communicate and work with a wide range of organisations and people including the business community, statutory and voluntary organisations, donors and homelessness projects Ability to manage challenging behaviour in a constructive and non-violent way	Essential   Essential   Essential Essential Essential     Essential
Technical knowledge/education
A qualification or working towards a qualification in Art, community Education or related discipline   Experience at teaching art to people with complex needs	Desirable     Essential
Experience required for the role
Experience of working in groups and one to one using a variety of resources Experience of working with and managing volunteers Experience of the varied and complex issues of working with vulnerable adults Experience of working within a team Experience in accredited learning or art that can achieve SVQ’s/NVQ’s	Essential Desirable Essential Essential Desirable
Aptitude and attitude
Ability to work independently and autonomously Positive thinker and creative problem solver Conscientious, practical, committed and hard working Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and cope under pressure Able to use Office Applications to a high standard Excellent organisational skills Excellent listening and communication skills	Essential Essential Essential Essential Desirable Essential Essential