Animation Teaching Artist Job at Reel Works in New York

Salary: $40-$50/hr

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reel Works is hiring a Animation Teaching Artist to teach two 6-week courses on animation to high school students.

Location: This position requires candidates to be based in the New York City Metro area. The physical office is located in Brooklyn, NY.

Reports To: Director of Education

Compensation: Part-time 4 hours per week; $40 - $50/hr

Estimated Start Date: Feb 7, 2025

Application Deadline: January 30, 2025

ABOUT REEL WORKS

Reel Works mentors, inspires, and empowers underserved NYC youth to share their stories through filmmaking, creating a springboard for successful careers in media and beyond. Using a one-on-one mentoring model, Reel Works challenges teens to tell their stories and have their voices heard. In turn, students build literacy, leadership, and self-confidence skills to create productive futures. Reel Works serves 1,000 youth annually from middle school through college to launch careers in media.

Film School Friday (February 2025- May, 2025)

Film School Fridays Intensives consist of 6-week workshops for high school students. Each intensive provides participants with foundational skills in their respective areas. Entrance to the program is on a first come first served basis.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of the Director of Education the Animation Teaching Artist will support the mission and vision of Reel Works by leading Animation workshops in 2D animation teaching foundational animation skills to high school students. This role involves leading weekly, in-person workshops, focusing on storytelling, character design, and animation techniques. You will create and deliver engaging lesson plans while fostering a creative and collaborative learning environment for students.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lesson Plan Development:

• Design sequential, hands-on lesson plans tailored to students strengths and creative ideas.
• Develop lessons that provide foundational skills in 2D animation, including character design, storyboarding, and basic motion principles.

Teaching:

• Lead dynamic and interactive in-person workshops, ensuring students are actively engaged in the learning process.
• Provide constructive feedback to support students growth and confidence in content creation.
• Schedule: Fridays, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM.
• Teach key concepts in:
  • Storytelling
  • Character design
  • Animation techniques (2D and 3D)
  • Use of animation software

Collaboration and Community Building:

• Foster a welcoming and inclusive community where students feel supported in their creative pursuits.
• Collaborate with Reel Works staff and stakeholders to enhance the program's effectiveness and outreach.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• In collaboration with the Director of Education, create lesson plans for a group of up to 10-14 students.
• Proficiency in an animation software such as Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, Blender, or similar tools.
• Experience in 2D animation.
• A strong understanding of animation principles, storytelling, and character development.
• A robust portfolio showcasing animation expertise, including industry or professional work (preferred).
• Experience in teaching or mentoring students; prior classroom experience is a plus.
• Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to engage with diverse students and adapt teaching methods to meet their needs.
• A background in animation or a related field is highly preferred.
• Multilingual abilities are a plus but not required.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and work sample via Reel Works online portal link.

Reel Works is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and developing an inclusive staff team. BIPOC, people with intersecting identities - LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people living with disabilities and others with lived experience being part of marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, the application for all positions at Reel Works includes the option to respond to questions regarding gender, ethnicity, disability, and veteran status (learn more here). This information will not be used as selection criteria in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Self-reporting of personal identifiers is voluntary. While we appreciate your cooperation as we aim to ensure we attract a diverse candidate pool, we respect your right to decide whether to share your personally identifiable information. If you'd rather not share this information, feel free to select "Decline to Answer".

Reel Works is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. For information about when and why we collect personal information on candidates, and how we keep it secure see our privacy policy.