SAMUEL S. FLEISHER ART MEMORIAL POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Teen Lounge Monitor
POSITION CLASSIFICATION: Part-time Internship
WAGE CLASSIFICATION: Stipend
REPORTS TO: Children & Youth Program Manager

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

The Fleisher Art Memorial is the nation's oldest tuition-free art school. The mission of Fleisher is to make art accessible to everyone, regardless of economic means, background, or artistic expression. In addition to its roster of free classes, Fleisher offers tuition bearing workshops, operates a year-round exhibits program including the prestigious Wind Challenge Exhibition Series, and provides art instruction in Philadelphia's public schools through its Community Partnership in the Arts (CPA) program. For more information, visit www.fleisher.org.

BACKGROUND

Through the Community Partnerships in the Arts (CPA) program, Fleisher Art Memorial serves over 500 young people through in-school and afterschool artist residencies and an annual series of special guest artists.

In January of 2008, CPA opened its Teen Lounge. Fleisher's Teen Lounge is a relaxed, drop in afterschool arts-based lounge where young people between the ages of 13 and 18 are offered the opportunity to explore their artistic and creative abilities in a variety of mediums. The Teen Lounge is open on Mondays and Wednesdays during the academic year from September through May, between 4 and 6:00 PM. Fleisher's Teen Lounge is one of six lounges in South Philadelphia associated with the Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative (SEPC). The Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative is a consortium of neighborhood-based organizations dedicated to providing educational, safe, fun, and inspiring learning and social environments for youth.

The position of Teen Lounge Monitor has been created to coordinate the Teen Lounge program at Fleisher. The position is offered as a paid internship ($1,800 stipend for January through June 2010) to college seniors, graduate students or recent graduates interested in arts education and gaining experience in program design and management. The Teen Lounge Monitor will oversee and coordinate the activities of the Teen Lounge and will be primarily responsible, along with the participants of the Teen Lounge, for developing a program that reflects the artistic interests of the youth participants and allows for the development of their leadership and social skills. Under the supervision of the Children and Youth Program Manager, the Teen Lounge Monitor will support the youth participants in the development of a program structure that creates a welcoming, productive and nurturing program for young people interested in the visual arts.

The Teen Lounge Monitor should be available from 3 to 6:30 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays and 2 additional hours during the week to meet and plan with the Program Manager.

1. Manage and Execute Teen Lounge Activities (75%):

• Develop, implement, and guide all facets of the Teen Lounge.


• Schedule all Teen Lounge workshops and support all visiting teaching artists scheduling facilities and securing supplies for workshop days.


• Lead alternate activities Wednesdays for those students who arrive late or cannot participate in the visiting artist lead workshops.


• Plan and execute sessions on Mondays for teen participants. These sessions may include activities not limited to art making, i.e. having invited speakers, taking field trips to galleries in the area, etc.


• Maintain a well-informed, working knowledge of the activities and services available at Fleisher.


• Along with Fleisher staff, serve as an advocate for Teen Lounge participants; communicate with Program Manager and staff about Teen Lounge activities to insure a positive experience for Teen Lounge participants


• Organize periodic meeting time with Teen Lounge participants to develop and assess Teen Lounge programming, to determine the satisfaction of participants with the programming.

• With the Administrative Assistant for Programming, monitor and record weekly attendance of Teen Lounge participants; ensure accurate reporting of program attendance and periodically prepare reports of Teen Lounge activities as required. Prepare student intake forms.


• Prepare monthly Teen Lounge activities calendar and flyer.


• With Teen Lounge members, review and select teaching artist workshop proposals; schedule visiting artists and maintain workshop calendar.


• Assist in collecting Teen Lounge data.


• Maintain an information board in Teen Lounge that includes any announcements and information about activities in which Teen Lounge participants may participate.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Prior experience developing and implementing arts-based programming with and for 13- 18 years old, group management and administrative support


• College senior, recent graduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in Fine Arts or Arts Education


• Commitment to the arts, art education, and young people


• Ability to communicate thoughtfully and clearly with audiences of diverse ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities; superb writing and verbal skills


• Creative, hard-working, extremely organized, and efficient


• Ability to work independently in a mature, self-directed manner


• Strong sense of accountability with a “can-do” attitude


• Professional demeanor, especially under pressure. Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately under deadline