2021 VISUAL ARTS STUDIO TECHNICAL ASSISTANTSHIPS with CSSSA

2021 Dates for TAs – Wednesday July 7 through Friday August 6

Studio Technical Assistants (TA) positions in the Visual Arts program at CSSSA provides a rewarding experience for all who participate in or contribute to it. TAs in Visual Arts are hired to set up/close down/manage their assigned studio classroom and to assist Faculty in the functioning of their classes. TAs must be available for the startup dates of Wednesday July 7 – Sunday July 11 during the first week of CSSSA to setup the program, meet with Faculty, and present their artwork during the Sunday Art Presentation, cover their individual class schedule assignment during weeks two thru four between July 12 – July 31, and the close down dates of Monday August 2 – Friday August 6 during the final, fifth week. Do not schedule personal or exhibition events during this window of time*.

COVID-19 UPDATE: CSSSA will be in session in 2021, either in-person or online! All of us at CSSSA are working toward and hopeful that we will be back on campus for in-person classes and campus life. Like so many things in our world right now, there is uncertainty. If we are unable to meet in-person, as the State of California and Los Angeles County allows, we are planning for synchronous (live) online CSSSA classes with the goal of providing shared community, collaboration, and creativity.

  • Full-time TA contract at $3200 remuneration**
  • Required CA Live Scans (cost split between applicant and CSSSA)
  • No Housing, Health Insurance*** or Work Visa Petitions****
  • All applicants must be residing in California

TECHNICAL STUDIO ASSISTANTSHIPS (TAS) in Visual Arts for the following areas:

  • Ceramics + Design
  • Design + Printmaking
  • Design + Painting
  • Digital Media
  • Drawing
  • Exhibitions + Artist in Residence
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Sculpture

QUALIFICATIONS: full-time TA contracted at $3,200 remuneration

  • Knowledgeable and technically skilled in the studio assistantship area/s of application
  • Comfortable with the delivery and facilitation of art instruction in a virtual classroom environment
  • Must be a hard worker willing and able to work long days and to get along well with students and faculty
  • Be a good problem solver and able to demonstrate knowledge of equipment and safety standards where applicable
  • Graduate students preferred / open to third and fourth-year undergraduates

APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE:

  • A letter of interest explaining your qualifications and skills for the area/s of interest/s you would like to be considered. Additionally, all letters of interest should address…
    • your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd preference choices for studio areas of interest in the subject line,
    • overview regarding any experience/proficiency you have with virtual/hybrid art instruction along with a brief description of your access to any applicable equipment/technology requirements necessary to facilitate virtual instruction,
    • your availability and interest for participation in either (or both) of the potential modes of instruction during the CSSSA session (in-person and/or virtual mode),
    • address your letter to Shari Bond, Visual Arts Chair, CSSSA.
  • A current resume with accurate current and summer contact information – telephone and email
  • Ten jpg images (max size of 1.5 MB each) of recent work that reflects areas/disciplines of application.
  • Letter of reference, can be in email format
  • Application deadline is ASAP with April 9th at the latest

Email application materials to: Shari Bond, Chair Visual Arts CSSSA, at sbond@csssa.ca.gov

* Schedule and Work Days: The CSSSA program always formally begins on the second Saturday in July when students arrive. TAs must be available for the startup dates of Wednesday July 7 through Sunday July 11, typically 9am-5pm PT to setup the program studio spaces, meet with Faculty, and present their artwork during the Sunday Art Presentation. From Monday July 12 through Saturday July 31 TAs will cover a mix of 9am-12pm & 1am-4pm PT individual classroom/studio sessions 4 days per week with their assigned faculty along with two-three 6pm-9pm PT Open Studio sessions. All TA individual schedules change during the final week of the CSSSA session on Monday August 2 through Friday August 6 to 9am-5pm PT (unless you are scheduled to cover an Open Studio session, then your scheduled for the last week of session will be 1pm-9pm PT) in order to studio close down the program studio spaces. Please do not schedule other personal or exhibition events during this window of time. Please do not request, “time off” from your established work schedule as our program is tightly scheduled with specific reasons for class schedules, and our program moves very fast and everyone is needed on-site to cover their assigned areas.

** Payment for Services: Please be aware that as contractors for the State, we will not be paid until the Legislature successfully passes a State Budget. Technically the budget is supposed to be passed by July 1 of each fiscal year. However, if there is a political impasse, the budget may not be passed on schedule. If that occurs, it can create a delay as to when we receive our paychecks. This has happened more than once in the past and can very likely happen again. It is my responsibility to inform you of this in case this presents a financial hardship. Please take this into consideration before you commit to the summer session. It is an unfortunate reality that we must all be aware of when deciding to accept a position at CSSSA. Typically you would receive your contracted payment 3 weeks after completing your service. In the past we have received our checks on time (end of August) or as late as October.

*** Health Insurance: As independent contractors with CSSSA you do not have insurance coverage. This fact is stated in the contracts that you receive from the State in June. In the case of an In-Person CSSSA session, after students arrive on Saturday July 10th, CSSSA has a Nurse on Duty during the session to attend to minor problems. The nurse will recommend you to an off-campus doctor when needed.

**** Work Visa: CSSSA cannot sign any document related to obtaining work authorization. You must have a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in order to be eligible for this summer position.

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