Teaching Artist Lead

Position:
Teaching Artist Lead

Reports to:

Inclusive Learning Manager

Direct Reports: 0

Division:
Learning & Engagement

FLSA Status:
Part Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $43.50/hour

Work Hours:

25 hours per week

Work Schedule:

20 hours per week on-site (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and select Saturday mornings), with the option to complete the remaining 5 hours remotely. Evening and weekend work at program events is required approximately 5 times per month.

Founded in 1952, the Frye is Seattle’s only free art museum, bringing together art and new ideas within a stunning Olson Sundberg Kundig-designed building in historic First Hill. A foundation collection of turn-of-the-century oil paintings is bolstered by a wide range of holdings in modern and contemporary art, reflecting our region’s evolving identity and a commitment to exploring the art of our time.

Learn more .

The Learning & Engagement division creates dynamic, reciprocal programs that connect artists, students, educators, and community members. Our work centers on learning, inquiry, and well-being across all ages and backgrounds.

The division includes Creative Aging, Inclusive Learning, Public Programs, and Visitor Services. Together, we collaborate across exhibitions and departments to ensure every visitor feels welcome, supported, and invited to engage meaningfully with art. While the Teaching Artist Lead is positioned within Inclusive Learning, the role also supports the development, coordination, and facilitation of additional programs across Learning & Engagement. One example is Coffee & Creativity, a Creative Aging program for older adults that fosters connection, creativity, and community through gallery discussions and art-making.

Learning programs at the Frye emphasize close looking, guided inquiry, and multimodal engagement. These programs are primarily offered Wednesday through Friday. Additional Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon sessions occur about once per month.

The Inclusive Learning team—housed under the Learning & Engagement division—is a collaborative group comprising one Inclusive Learning Manager, one Teaching Artist Lead, and five on-call Teaching Artists. Together, the team designs and facilitates exhibition and collection-inspired learning experiences across multiple program areas and audiences—from K-12 school groups to families, adults, and intergenerational community groups—contributing to an environment that fosters inclusive (designed for a variety of levels of experience with art and art making), culturally-responsive (reflective of and relevant to diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives), and impactful (creating meaningful and lasting engagement) learning experiences.

On-call Teaching Artists typically support lesson planning and facilitation for scheduled programs (for example, leading an inquiry-based gallery discussion followed by a hands‑on studio activity). In addition to lesson planning and facilitation, the TA Lead provides program continuity, year‑long curriculum mapping, and day‑to‑day coordination.

The Manager provides strategic leadership, sets departmental priorities, oversees program design and evaluation, and leads big‑picture administrative functions.

Legacy programs include Small Frye, a preschool program that pairs storytelling with art-making;
Field Trips to the Frye, designed for K-12 school groups and featuring gallery discussion plus art making; and Family Field Trip to the Frye, which supports intergenerational learning between children and caregivers through interactive activities and art making. In addition, the team regularly pilots new initiatives such as a recently implemented Drop-In Art-making program, which supports public drop-in engagement through in-gallery drawing or studio art making;

and Sensory Station Pop-Ups, which enhance the traditional gallery experience through interactive samples that explore sight, sound, scent, and touch.

The Frye Art Museum is seeking an experienced, innovative, detail-oriented, and community-connected teaching artist to join our Learning &…