Creative Arts & Studio Guide in Mid-Town Santa Cruz

ArtTerra Creative Arts & Studio Guide

Acton Academy Santa Cruz Midtown Santa Cruz

Part-Time: 10:30- 3:30 Fridays -28 classes, September to June

About ArtTerra

ArtTerra is Acton Academy Santa Cruz’s Friday enrichment program rooted in creativity, hands-on learning, nature connection, and learner-driven exploration. It blends visual arts, maker experiences, Spanish in action, music, and outdoor learning into a mixed-age environment where learners build skills, confidence, and ownership.

We are seeking a Creative Arts & Studio Guide for learners ages 4 to 18, primarily upper elementary this year. This role combines whole-program creative facilitation with a focused afternoon art studio for older learners.

Friday Program Overview10:30 to 11:40 AM Spanish in Action Co-led

The Art Guide co-leads a playful, gamified Spanish experience with the Spark Guide.

This is not a class, but an immersive experience where learners build language through doing, playing, and shared activities such as cooking, gardening, animal care, and maker projects.

No Spanish fluency is required. A willingness to participate, practice, and learn alongside learners is essential.

11:45 to 12:45 PM Lunch and Outdoor Time

Lunch followed by outdoor play at a local park. Learners typically walk together to a nearby park for unstructured play, connection, and time outside.

12:45 to 1:15 PM Silent Reading and Journaling

Quiet transition time. During this block, the Art Guide uses this time to prepare materials and set up for the afternoon art studio.

1:15 to 3:15 PM Art Studio Older Learners

A mixed age studio approximately ages 8 to 18 focused on drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, and maker based exploration.

Learners develop skills, confidence, and creative independence while working in a studio culture that emphasizes responsibility, care for materials, and respect for shared space.

Role Overview

This role is designed to create a real studio environment where learners:

• Explore multiple art mediums
• Build creative confidence and independence
• Take ownership of materials, tools, and shared space
• Develop responsibility through daily studio care

From the beginning of the year, learners are expected to clean up after themselves and actively contribute to maintaining an organized, inspiring studio.

Yearly Art Journey -Fall Foundations and Studio Habits

Drawing, painting, mixed media, printmaking, and core visual art skills.

Focus includes:

• Material care and responsibility
• Setup and cleanup routines
• Growth mindset language and reflection
• Respect for shared space and tools

Winter Ceramics Focus

Hand building, sculpture, functional forms, and clay exploration.

Spring Specialty Maker Studio

Based on the Guide’s expertise and creative practice.

Possible directions include:

• Fiber arts sewing, knitting, crochet, felting, weaving
• Cake decorating and food arts
• Woodworking with hand tools
• Architecture, design, and model building
• Printmaking, jewelry, or other maker arts

End of Session Art in the Natural World and Field Trips

Each session may conclude with an outdoor art experience or field trip option such as:

• Beach or harbor sketching
• Nature journaling
• Watercolor in the field
• Observation based drawing

End of Year Learner Choice Projects

The final few classes of the year will intentionally shift toward learner choice, allowing learners to design and pursue their own creative projects with increasing independence.

Responsibilities

• Lead afternoon art studio for mixed age learners
• Co-lead Spanish in Action with Spark Guide
• Facilitate hands-on creative experiences
• Build and maintain a strong studio culture of responsibility
• Teach foundational art skills while supporting independence
• Encourage ownership of materials, space, and work
• Use growth mindset language to support reflection and resilience
• Support outdoor art experiences and occasional field trips
• Collaborate with Acton Guides across the Friday program
• Maintain a safe, organized, inspiring studio environment

We Are Looking For Someone Who

• Has experience teaching or mentoring children and teens in art or making
• Enjoys mixed age, project based environments
• Has a strong personal creative practice
• Values process over perfection
• Can guide without over directing
• Believes young people are capable of real responsibility
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly welcomed but not required
• Uses growth mindset language naturally with learners
• Brings energy, patience, and curiosity
• Enjoys connecting art with nature and real world experiences

Schedule

• Fridays during the school year
• 28 classes, September to June
• Acton Academy Santa Cruz Midtown

Compensation

Based on experience and scope of role, likely structured as a flat Friday rate

About Acton Academy Santa Cruz

Acton Academy Santa Cruz is a learner driven program where children take ownership of their learning, discover their strengths, and grow through meaningful challenges. Guides act as facilitators and mentors, helping create environments where learners develop independence, creativity, and responsibility

If Interested****

If you are interested in this role, please email us directly at info@actonsantacruz.org

Pay: Up to $200.00 per day

Work Location: In person

Salary : $200