"Continuing Education, Teen Drawing Studio Instructor"

CE Overview

RISD Continuing Education functions within the larger context of RISD, an institution with an unparalleled reputation for producing highly-skilled, successful, and internationally renowned creative practitioners. With more than 100 years of expertise nurturing critical making, thinking, and innovation in art and design we facilitate personal and professional development by engaging students in sustained exploration and learning in the creative disciplines. With a commitment to centering inclusivity, diversity and equity in executing key responsibilities, RISD Continuing Education instructors plan, organize, teach, and provide feedback to promote and direct student learning in keeping with the institutional learning-centered values and in a manner that meets essential competencies of artists and designers.

Job Summary

Who are we looking for?

RISD Continuing Education is seeking an instructor interested in supporting the growth of teens who plan to attend an art and design institution. Applicants should be prepared to deliver a course to a diverse group of students with various abilities and experiences. We welcome candidates whose teaching experience addresses historically underrepresented communities.

The successful candidate for this role will need to have in-depth knowledge of course development. This role is contracted to teach the course and separately contracted to develop the course following RISD Continuing Education guidelines and standards. Course development for this program involves ongoing collaboration with the program manager and design instructor.

How does this role impact our students?

This summer, we are offering a two-week academic intensive to international high school students seeking a college-level learning experience. This program includes two one-week courses (Drawing and Design) that focus on RISD's hands-on approach to studio learning. Through consecutive, daily studio classes, students develop critical thinking and concept-driven work on a fast-moving timeline. All assignments are completed during class with guidance from the instructor, enabling students to create portfolio-ready work aligned with their personal interests and goals.

The Instructor plays a critical role in demonstrating skills, techniques, and materials usage, as well as facilitating class discussions and critiques. We are particularly interested in candidates whose pedagogical approach and personal studio practice can resonate with our student body.

What are we teaching?

We are seeking an available instructor to teach Drawing during the 2026 Summer term (see Course Schedule below). Although this course does not involve an online teaching component, the successful candidate should be prepared to collaborate with the program manager and design instructor by using online tools. Below is the current version of the course description:

Drawing is the practice of seeing, interpreting, and communicating through visual language. This course strengthens your observational skills and introduces a range of drawing methods to translate ideas to visual forms. Through guided exercises, you will experiment with both traditional and unconventional materials to explore gesture, contour, value, space, and composition. Assignments encourage you to work from life, memory, and imagination, expanding your ability to convey ideas with clarity and expression. By the end of the course, you will create a resolved drawing that demonstrates your growth in perception, technique, and creative voice.

This course focuses on making by hand and does not allow students to use computer programs or tablets to create artwork. As our students come from a range of backgrounds with varied art education, successful candidates will be able to respond to students with a range of existing skills.

*Please indicate how your professional work experience relates to this course in your statement of interest.*

Knowledge/Skills/Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• Teaching experience in a collegiate and/or high school setting
• Ability to meet RISD's technology requirements
• Experience developing courses that challenge students creatively and intellectually while maintaining age-appropriate pedagogy
• Demonstrated expertise in drawing
• Demonstrated ability to generate high-caliber student work
• Ability to keep students engaged throughout full-day studio courses
• Accept and act upon constructive feedback from course evaluations by students and staff
• Experience leading classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions in an environment of diverse learners
• Ability to tailor instruction to meet the needs of students with a wide range of pre-existing skills
• Ongoing professional creative practice
• Proficiency with online collaborative tools such as Google Suite

Knowledge/Skills/Experience Preferred:

• Master of Fine Arts or equivalent in established professional practice in the area of study
• Teaching certification/certificate
• Ability to contribute to RISD's strategic priorities of just societies, sustainability, and creating new knowledge
• Experience developing inclusive curriculum that centers artists of historically underrepresented backgrounds
• Interest in collaborative curriculum planning

Union: No

Course Development, Class Schedule, and Work Modality:

This position begins training and course development on April 14, 2026. Course development is expected to be completed by June 23, 2026.

Course dates: July 13-17, 2026

Studio classes meet from 9 am to 4 pm, including a one-hour lunch.

This course is taught in person on the RISD campus in Providence, RI.

Documents Needed to Apply:

• Resume
• Link to your professional portfolio and student work samples
• A teaching portfolio, preferably relating to this medium and age group. If sharing a link, provide a password if one is needed
• A cover letter or statement of interest is optional

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.