Creative Teaching

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is a mission-driven, equal opportunity employer. Updated 3.2.26. The Kirk Newman Art School is one of the leading community-based art schools in the United States. Founded in 1931, the school has nurtured the creative passions of tens of thousands of students around the region, state, and beyond, annually welcoming more than 3,400 enrollments. Students of all ages engage with our talented and committed faculty as a part of an exciting fine arts curriculum.

Our spring and summer camps welcome more than 500 youth and prepare the next generation of creative and passionate citizens. Intensive workshops, visiting artists, and other creative learning opportunities contribute to the vibrant community within the school.

Consider joining us as a part-time, contract faculty member by submitting your curriculum vitae, electronic examples of your work, and a statement of interest to teach course(s) or workshop(s) in one or more disciplines for the Kirk Newman School, listed below. Please indicate if you are interested in teaching a course or workshop, or both, when submitting your materials. Once complete, these application materials will be shared with the hiring committees and kept on file for one year.

The school director and respective department leader will reach out to discuss your submission materials should an opportunity be available within the respective department.

• Ceramics:
  Electric, gas, salt, and raku kilns plus one off-site anagama kiln.
• Sculpture:
  Clay, metal welding, wood, and bronze casting foundry.
• Jewelry:
  Fabrication equipment, vacuum and centrifugal casting, sand blaster, rolling mills, and kilns.
• Drawing/Painting:
  Facilities and equipment for drawing, oil and acrylic painting, and mixed media.
• Printmaking:
  Intaglio, photo etching, woodblock, lithography, and serigraphy.
• Fiber: 20 floor looms, inkle and rigid heddle looms, spinning wheels, equipment for felting and dyeing.
• Photography: 12 enlargers, chemistry, and systems for alternative processes. Fully-equipped darkroom.
• Glass Fusing:
  Facilities for kiln-formed and kiln-fused glass.
• Enrichment:
  Languages and creative writing, wellness, and creative practice.
• Children’s Department:
  Family programs, classes for ages 3-4, 5 to Kindergarten, grades 1-3, grades 4-6, middle and high school, and youth spring and summer camps.

We are particularly interested in instructors who possess expertise in wet felting, needle felting, hand sewing, fiber design, basketry, clothing construction, welding and metal fabrication, paper making, 3D mixed media, jewelry making, creative professional development, creative writing, wellness, movement, and youth arts education.

• For Fall 2026 Teaching:
  Application materials are reviewed no later than April
  1. Fall semester runs Sept 8 to Nov 26, 2026. Application link for fall will close on April
  2. Please note that the dates listed here are subject to slight adjustments.

Working under the respective Chair and/or Department Head for your discipline, Kirk Newman Art School faculty serve a wide range of students from across the Kalamazoo region and are responsible for instruction that inspires students' creative process, self-expression, and artistic skill building. Faculty members are expected to design and deliver high quality instruction in your area of expertise and professional discipline.

Faculty may also work in close collaboration with other faculty, institutional staff, and stakeholders when necessary. Classes are offered during winter, spring, summer, and fall semesters and may span several weeks or be designed to deliver shorter one-day or multi‑day workshop experiences. Faculty work with respective Chair and/or Department Head by season to develop courses that fit into the availability of classrooms, studios, equipment, and interests.

Courses are generally offered Mondays through Thursdays with daytime and evening options available until 9pm or on Saturdays and Sundays from mornings until mid afternoon.

• Develop and deliver…