Jennifer Zwilling Appointed Curator of Artistic Programs at The Clay Studio

by | Dec 14, 2014 | Uncategorized

Friends of The Clay Studio,

I
am pleased to announce that we have appointed Jennifer Zwilling as our
new Curator of Artistic Programs. We conducted a nationwide search over
the past two months and our search committee made a unanimous decision
to make this offer. 
Jennifer
is a respected curator, scholar, and educator with a strong background
in the academic and museum fields. Jennifer’s deep understanding of the
ceramic arts and dedication to the next generation of craft artists make
her an excellent fit for us.  Prior to her appointment, she worked with
The Philadelphia Museum of Art where she held numerous positions, most
recently Project Assistant Curator for American Decorative Arts and
Contemporary Craft.  She has curated exhibitions for The Center for Art
in Wood, and Inliquid, and has taught Craft History at Tyler School of
Art and  Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Jennifer holds a
Bachelor’s degree from Ursinus College and a Master’s degree from Temple
University.
As
the Curator of Artistic Programs, Jennifer will oversee The Clay
Studios’ exhibitions, Resident and Guest Artist in Residence Program.
This position plays a vital role in driving the artistic vision of The
Clay Studio.
Thank you for your ongoing support of The Clay Studio
Christopher R. Taylor
President
 

For more information on Jennifer Zwilling read the press release on our website.

job opportunity: The Clay Studio

by | Oct 1, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

Curator of Artistic Programs

The Clay Studio, a nonprofit organization with a focus on the ceramic
arts, seeks a dynamic and knowledgeable Curator of Artistic Programs to
lead our residency, visiting artist, and exhibitions programs. The
Curator of Artistic Programs plays a leadership role in formulating
strategies that support The Clay Studio’s artistic and community
engagement goals as well as the expansion of the organization’s
reputation in the ceramic field, within our local community, and within
international craft circles. As the member of a small staff, the
Curator of Artistic Programming will be a strong team player who is
willing to roll up their sleeves and manage details and execution of all
programming, communicating among departments, and pitching in with the
very real labor involved in exhibitions, artist talks, and special
events.

The Curator of Artistic Programs is a vital senior-level staff member of
The Clay Studio who reports to the President of The Clay Studio. S/he
is responsible for oversight of support staff, achieving annual income
goals, contributing to fundraising activities, working with the Board
and Artistic Committee, and must be a highly visible member of The Clay
Studio community. S/he collaborates with the President, Senior Staff and
Board members to create, communicate and implement an array of artistic
programming.

The Clay Studio has recently adopted a new strategic plan that outlines
an extended period of growth and community partnerships. The Curator of
Artistic Programs will play a key role in executing this plan by
strengthening relationships with the Board & staff, local &
national artists, collectors, customers, and varied members of the
community.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate must possess a broad
understanding of contemporary ceramics, curatorial practice, and the
needs of practicing artists. Furthermore, this position requires a bold
vision of community engagement, a collaborative working style, and the
ability to create exciting programs and meaningful partnerships.
Applicants must have at least 5 years experience in a senior-level
curatorial or artistic director role. An advanced degree in ceramics or
curatorial practice is preferred.

Essential Skills:

The Clay Studio is seeking a creative thinker
who also knows how to get things done independently, but is a highly
functioning member of a team. Physically, the position requires climbing
ladders, stairs, and lifting of 50 – 100 pounds is regularly required.
The successful candidate will have experience and strengths in the
following areas:

Gallery & Exhibition Programming

  • Conceptualize and direct the installation of major exhibitions
  • Identify and cultivate lasting and ad hoc partnerships to meet artistic goals
  • Attract buyers, supporters, and collectors to all artistic programs
  • Ensure that revenue goals are met or exceeded each year
  • Develop cross-over educational programming & lectures internally and externally
  • Contract with guest curators as necessary
  • Experience with shipping, crating, packaging of artwork
  • Help install, strike, and be an active member of the opening preparation team.

Resident and Visiting Artist Programs

  • Attract and retain the best artists for the Resident and Guest Artist Programs
  • Select and orient artists to Philadelphia and its creative community
  • Collaborate with each artist to define the goals of their participation
  • Communicate across departments with regard to residency details and materials needs
  • Make Resident Artists aware of professional opportunities
  • Work to attract Artistic Program Sponsor(s)

Administrative Responsibilities

  • Develop and manage an Artistic Programs Committee
  • Provide timely and detailed reports for Executive Committee and the full Board
  • Maintain a customer-first focus by interacting directly with collectors and buyers
  • Assure all web pages specific to Artistic Programs are maintained
  • Deliver lectures and other presentations on behalf of The Clay Studio
  • Create narratives for publications, grant materials and budgets, press releases and visual branding oversight
  • Develop and adhere to annual budgets in each Artistic Program area
  • Attend, as directed, various local, national and international conferences
  • Support goals as outlined in The Clay Studio’s strategic plan
  • Train and mentor all shop & gallery staff
  • Other duties as assigned

How to Apply:

In order to be considered, please submit the following information:

  • Cover letter outlining qualifications, curatorial methods, and salary expectations
  • Professional resume
  • Three relevant references
  • Relevant support materials and/or publications from a recent
    exhibition where you were the lead curator or artistic staff member

Submit to Charity Thackston. [email protected] No phone calls, please.

Deadline:

Please submit materials via email on or before 5:00 PM, October 15, 2014
www.theclaystudio.org/about/employment.php

job opportunity – The Clay Studio

by | Mar 27, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

The Clay Studio is looking for a summer grad intern to complete a
10-week paid Fels internship that will involve updating the records for
our permanent collection. We’ll be photographing, researching and
tagging works that have entered the collection since 2006–mainly from
International Guest Artists and Clay Studio Residents.

The Clay Studio is a non-profit educational arts organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the ceramic
arts and the work of new clay artists. As Philadelphia’s only arts
organization dedicated exclusively to the ceramic arts, our mission is
to provide diverse audiences with a unique learning environment in which
to experience the ceramic arts.

The Clay Studio seeks a
graduate intern to research, inventory and catalog our relatively small
permanent collection of ceramic artwork for uploading onto The Clay
Studio’s database and website. Responsibilities will include producing
condition reports for each art object, tagging and photographing each
piece, conducting research on the artist, provenance and significance of
each work, and transporting research files and images into The Clay
Studio’s database for publishing online. This project will help The Clay
Studio develop an accurate catalog of the permanent collection and will
develop an online educational tool for sharing the collection with the
public.

The successful applicant will be a graduate student
interested in the arts, archives, and research. A general knowledge of
the field of ceramic art is preferred but not required. Strong
organizational skills and intellectual curiosity are ultimately the most
important factors in the success of the project. To apply, please
submit a one page cover letter and resume to Garth Johnson at
[email protected] with “Fels Intern Application” in the subject
line.

This 10-week internship is to be completed in summer
2014. The Samuel S. Fels Fund has provided a $6000 stipend for the
successful completion of the project.

www.theclaystudio.org

Employment opportunities @ The Clay Studio

by | Nov 17, 2013 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

EMPLOYMENT
Position Title – Director of Development
Contact – Jenna Savage, Executive Assistant, [email protected]

Description

The Clay Studio, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a focus on the ceramic arts, seeks a dynamic and entrepreneurial Director of Development to lead our annual fundraising efforts while simultaneously conceptualizing and executing an ambitious strategy for growth. With a 40th Anniversary on the horizon, this is a great opportunity to raise your professional visibility while laying the foundation for a capital campaign within 36 months.

The Director of Development plays a leadership role in formulating strategies that support the annual fundraising goals as well as the expansion of the organization’s contributed income. S/he collaborates with the President, Senior Staff and Board members to create, communicate and implement our development activities. S/he is responsible for meeting and expanding all contributed income budget goals.

As The Clay Studio prepares for an extended period of growth, the Director of Development will play a key role in driving fundraising effectiveness, community awareness, and growth on a new scale. To be successful, the person in this position will be entrepreneurial, knowledgeable about key fundraising methods, adaptive, highly energetic, and eager to take on new challenges. Superior people skills will serve you well in this position! Organizational Background

The Clay Studio was founded in 1974 as an artist collective. As we approach our 40th Anniversary in 2014, we have a proud legacy of presenting international programs, hosting three national clay conferences, and serving local artists, students, children, and adults. The organization has worked to attain a strong local, national, and international reputation in the field of ceramic arts programming.

The Clay Studio has a budget of $1.7 million, of which 50% is contributed income. We are organized in the following six business units: Consignment Shop, Gallery, Studio Rental Program, Ceramics School, Claymobile, and Artist Residency. In the coming two to three years, the organization anticipates the need for a capital campaign in the range of five to ten million dollars.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will posses a broad understanding of philanthropic practice, have a track record of meeting annual fundraising expectations, and demonstrate a proven history of increasing contributed income. S/he will be a strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising. Outgoing personalities are encouraged! CFRE is preferred and/or a track record of fundraising results.

Essential Skills
The Clay Studio is seeking a strategic thinker who also knows how to put the wheels in motion. The successful candidate will have experience and strengths in the following areas of fundraising:
Leadership, Management and People Skills Supervise a Development Assistant, volunteers, and interns as needed Engage the full Board, Committee members, and colleagues in development strategies & implementation.
Maintain a strong network of community contacts
Development Strategy
Continue Annual Fundraising schedule of approximately $900,000
Utilize existing programming to attract and retain members; going to classes, workshops, First Friday events, and public networking
Exercise your people skills to expand our giving program: devise new membership attraction & retention strategies, increase major donors, and increase corporate sponsorships giving
Develop and implement a planned giving program
Special Events Planning and Management
Devise and implement special events that range in size from intimate cocktail receptions to major galas
Create development opportunities within existing outlets such as workshops, First Fridays, lectures, newsletters, etc.
Conceptualize and execute events as a member of a team that consists of colleagues, donors, board members, volunteers, and contractors.
Grants Management
Identify and cultivate granting agencies (private, public, government)
Guide a Development Assistant who has strength in grant writing
Manage internal metrics for grant reporting

To Apply

In order to be considered, please submit the following information
Cover letter outlining qualifications and salary expectations
Professional resume
Three relevant references
Relevant writing samples of a successful grant and donor solicitation letter

Submit to Jenna Savage, [email protected]. No phone calls, please.
Deadline – Review of applications will begin immediately with deadline of December 13 or until filled.

INTERNSHIP
The Clay Studio Intern Program

Become an active member in The Clay Studio’s community by participating in an internship. The Intern Program is geared towards ceramic enthusiast and those interested in the non-profit sector who want to further their experience and be part of a supportive educational community. Interns perform a wide variety of functions throughout the organization and can be required to do physical labor and heavy lifting.

Interns work 5 hours per week, one day a week during the Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer term. In exchange for this work, participants will receive a free class, access to open studio hours, and other class benefits such as shelf space, glazes and firings.

It is important to both the educational value of your experience as well as the stability of the program that applicants are prepared for a commitment of one full 120-week term, or 60 hours, to The Clay Studio’s Intern Program.

Internships are available in the following areas: Studio (School and/or Summer Clay Camps), Outreach/Education (Claymobile), Gallery/Shop, and Administration/Development.
To Apply

Application can be downloaded HERE. E-mail application and resume to [email protected] with Intern Application in the subject heading. For more information please contact Vice President, Jennifer Martin at [email protected].

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Clay Studio offers a variety of volunteer opportunities in the School and Gallery. Volunteer duties include assisting in classes and workshops, performing administrative work, staffing the School Store, helping in the Gallery & Shop, and assisting at Clay Studio special events and First Friday openings. Dates and hours vary. We are looking for friendly volunteers with an interest in ceramics.
To Apply

Application can be downloaded HERE. E-mail application and resume to [email protected] with Volunteer in the subject heading. For more information please contact Jennifer Martin at [email protected].

About The Clay Studio

The Clay Studio is Philadelphia’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to the education and promotion of the ceramic arts, and is one of the world’s leading institutions in the field. Founded in 1974, The Clay Studio supports the ceramic arts through its artist residencies, gallery, studio space, and school, educational & outreach programs. The programs of the Clay Studio reflect the dual character of the organization: as a community centered institution involved with the life of the city and region, and as a national and international focal point for ceramic arts. The Clay Studio believes in promoting broad access to the ceramic arts, therefore programs are geared to all levels of interest and proficiency.

The Clay Studio is an equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, religion, creed, sex, marital status, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, political affiliation or belief. Employment decisions are made without consideration of these or any other factors that are prohibited by law.

137-139 North Second Street · Philadelphia PA 19106 · 215.925.3453 · T-Sa 11am-6pm, Su 12p-6p · [email protected]

– See more at: http://theclaystudio.org/about/employment.php#sthash.w1g1mwLw.dpuf