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Applications Open: UMS Teaching Artists

At an in-class workshop at Holmes Elementary. Photo by Peter Smith.

UMS is seeking enthusiastic, highly skilled teaching artists for part-time seasonal independent contract employment for our 2017-18 School Day Performance Season.

Who should apply

Applicants must demonstrate experience in any of the following disciplines: dance, music, drama, puppetry, visual arts, or video in support of our K-12 Pre & Post Performance In-Class Workshops. Applicants must be committed to working with young people and able to collaborate with other educators. Eligible candidates will be required to develop and implement in-class arts-integrated workshops in connection with our series of School Day Performances. Teaching artists will use their art form as a vehicle to address the specific themes and ideas of the performance as the core content of their lesson.

We encourage applications from teaching artists personally connected to these themes as we believe the diversity of our programming should be reflected in the diversity of our teaching artists. This season we are offering Pre & Post-show workshops for the following School Day Performances:

Required Qualifications

  • Experience in your artistry (professional or university).
  • Experience in classroom setting as a teacher and/or artist.
  • Experience working with diverse populations and a range of grade levels.
  • Experience in developing arts-integrated curriculum and lesson planning.
  • Ability to collaborate and work with team teacher.
  • Highly flexible and adaptable to a range of educational situations.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Must be able to travel independently to schools in the SE Michigan region.


At in-class workshop in conjunction with Ping Chong+Company’s Undesirable Elements series. Photo by Jesse Meria.

How to apply

Interested applicants should visit the K-12 Programs section of ums.org to learn more about our programs, philosophy, and current season.

Submit the following, to Terri Park, Education Coordinator, at tepark@umich.edu:

1. A resume and cover letter detailing training and experience as both an artist and a teacher.

2. A lesson plan activity (approx. 10 minutes) that demonstrates an interactive experience using an art form that would be connected to one of our School Day Performances. The activity should help to explore the content and theme of the performance to enhance students’ experience for one of our School Day Performances. Lesson plans must be interactive, grade appropriate and designed to showcase applicants’ artistry, classroom experience and approach to arts-integrated school based work.

Please submit all materials to tepark@umich.edu by August 30, 2017.

Candidates will be subject to a criminal background check prior to hiring in accordance with the University of Michigan’s policy on minors on campus. All contract employees receive a 1099 at the end of the calendar year for tax purposes.