Category:: Faculty
Subscribe::
Department:: 4521 (VAPA-Visual and performing arts)
Locations:: Worcester, MA
Posted:: Oct 6, 2022
Closes:: Open Until Filled
Type:: Full-time - Exempt
Position ID:: 154203

About Clark University:

Founded in 1887, Clark was one of the first all-graduate institutions in the United States. Today the University is a highly-ranked, student-centered institution educating approximately 2,350 undergraduate and 1,150 graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. This commitment to scholarship and inquiry reflects the University's commitment to "challenge convention and change our world" and to address issues of critical importance to society. It is also reflected by Clark's many national and international distinctions, including recognition for its diversity and inclusion efforts, innovation, community engagement and impact, as a top green campus, and for having a distinguished geography and international development program. Clark has also been included in the groundbreaking Colleges that Change Lives guide since it was first published in 1996.

Clark is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, a dynamic, diverse city "on the rise." The second largest city in New England, Worcester is home to 11 institutions of higher learning and is increasingly recognized for its growing healthcare and biotechnology communities, its thriving cultural scene, and as a vibrant food hub.

Job Description:

Applicants that apply by January 31, 2023 will receive full consideration.The Department of Visual & Performing Arts (V&PA) at Clark University invites applications for an Assistant or Associate Rank Professor of Studio Art. The position begins in the fall semester of 2023. Department of Visual and Performing Arts | Clark University

Credentials

An MFA in hand is required for appointment as an Assistant or Associate Rank Professor of Studio Art. All finalists for the position must hold an MFA in Sculpture or related field by August of 2023.

Specialization

We're looking for artists who practice in multidimensional modes and often work across disciplinary boundaries and conceive innovative ways to address systemic problems such as climate change, social justice, and the importance of decolonizing curriculums. The successful applicant will be trained in the visual arts with a specialty in sculpture that includes expertise in at least one traditional practice such as plaster casting, wood carving, and/or metal fabrication and one contemporary practice such as found object assemblage, site-specific installations, performance-based actions, and/or socially engaged art.

Portfolio

A record of professional activity as documented in a portfolio of up to 20 images (and video clips, if applicable) that demonstrates a high level of craft, concept, and aesthetics in sculpture and 3D arts is required.

Successful tenure at Clark requires professional engagement, achievements, and contributions to the creative field, and it is important that applicants be prepared to maintain a consistent art practice with an emphasis on peer review. Because a high record of achievement in creative activity (or research) is required for tenure in the Studio Art Program at Clark, pre-tenure faculty are allotted a one semester sabbatical after a successful pre-tenure review. Additionally, startup funds are available to assist with establishing a studio practice to purchase materials, tools, and equipment.

Teaching Excellence, Specialization and Level of Experience

The successful applicant will demonstrate a potential for teaching excellence. The position will teach a wide range of courses in the sculpture curriculum (from introductory to advanced), be able anchor their teaching with historical and theoretical rigor, and mentor the students who want to pursue careers in the sculptural arts. Additional teaching and service expectations include: contribute to aligned programs, be responsible for program development, and provide academic and professional advising to students of varying backgrounds and experiences. Importantly, the successful applicant must also be able to address the needs of our increasingly diverse student population. Presently, the sculpture facilities can support the following process capabilities: fabrication and construction with soft metals, casting (plaster, resin, plastic), woodworking, soft sculpture techniques, found object assemblage, and site-specific installation. Preference will be given to candidates with at least two years of teaching experience at the college level (graduate school teaching included).

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated teacher who is able to balance a 1 - 2 teaching load with their creative research practice in the first year. Regular teaching load of 2 - 2 and academic advising responsibilities begin in the second year. This position also requires management of the sculpture studio space.

Interdisciplinarity

Per the job listing, the V&PA Department offers focused study in six fields (Studio Art; Art History; Music; Screen Studies; Theatre Arts; and Media, Culture and the Arts) as well as opportunities for interdisciplinary creative research and teaching. We especially welcome applicants capable of teaching occasional specialized courses cross-listed with MCA or with appeal to students in other majors, particularly those in the Becker School of Technology and Design, such as Game Design. Interest in collaborating outside the department in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences is a plus.

Engagement with Liberal Education Framework

The successful applicant will demonstrate an understanding and commitment to Clark's dedication to liberal education, along with the capacity to teach and advise undergraduates within this framework. As a research and liberal arts institution, the structure of Clark university is different than that of a specialty art school. Clark engages the arts within the context of the humanities, and as part of a research university that is also a leader in the natural and social sciences. While prior experience in a liberal arts or research university is not required, a successful candidate will ensure that the mission of liberal education is reflected in their teaching objectives. Clark studio art program offers a BA where majors greatly appreciate anchoring their art studies in a broad liberal arts curriculum, recognizing that a good artist is a good thinker and an engaged citizen.

Record on Diversity and Inclusion

The Studio Art Program is dedicated to attracting a comprehensive pool of applicants through recruitment from organizations and associations that serve underrepresented groups. The hire in Sculpture will be made in accordance with Clark's policies on diversity and inclusion. The successful applicant for this position will demonstrate a positive record on diversity and inclusivity in their teaching, research and/or service. Per Clark's Diversity Advocate guidelines, this demonstration could include such elements as the following:

• Experience working with diverse students and communities
• Inclusive teaching or creative research philosophy committed to diversifying projects and teams
• Scholarship focused on diversity-related subjects

Service and Collegiality

An important role of the faculty is engagement with the life of the academy as a "good citizen" actively contributing to the advancement of the Studio Art Program, Visual & Performing Arts Department, Clark University, and the wider arts community. Evidence of a commitment to service could include such elements as the following:

• Regular attendance at campus events and development of co-curricular activities.
• Post tenure rotation of administrative roles like program director, gallery director, and department chair with program/department faculty colleagues.
• Participation on university wide volunteer, appointed, and elected committees as appropriate.
• Engagement with local communities through arts-based non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and public discourse.

Applicants that apply by January 31, 2022 will receive full consideration.

Requirements:

Clark University currently requires all employees and students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Exemptions will be made for medical or disability reasons or religious beliefs, and could be made, at the sole discretion of the University, for other well-documented reasons.

Additional Information:

Clark University embraces equal opportunity as a core value: we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. This commitment applies to every aspect of education, services, and employment policies and practices at Clark. Our commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. All positions at Clark share in the responsibility for building a community that values diversity and the uniqueness of others by exhibiting integrity and respect in interacting with all members of the Clark community to create an atmosphere of fairness and belonging. We strongly encourage members from historically underrepresented communities, inclusive of all women, to apply.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full time faculty that includes; paid time off, sabbatical through the Provost's Office, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

Application Instructions:

To be considered for this position, you must submit your credentials online. Create a Clark University Careers Account by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below. You will be able to upload the following documents, which are required for consideration:

• CV
• Cover letter
• Diversity statement
• Artist Statement
• Teaching Philosophy
• A PDF or Link to a portfolio of up to 20 works
• Contact Information for 3 references

Applicants that apply by January 31, 2023 will receive full consideration.

See the FAQ for using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

Already have a Clark University Careers Account? Login to your account to add documents or update your account.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Salary will be commensurate with skills and experience.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

A successful background check is required upon acceptance.