Continuing Education Instructor, Handloom Weaving

CE Overview

RISD Continuing Education functions within the larger context of RISD, an institution with an unparalleled reputation for producing highly-skilled, successful, and internationally renowned creative practitioners. With more than 100 years of expertise nurturing critical making, thinking, and innovation in art and design we facilitate personal and professional development by engaging students in sustained exploration and learning in the creative disciplines. With a commitment to centering inclusivity, diversity and equity in executing key responsibilities, RISD Continuing Education instructors plan, organize, teach, and provide feedback to promote and direct student learning in keeping with the institutional learning-centered values and in a manner that meets essential competencies of artists and designers.

Job Description

RISD Continuing Education instructors plan, organize, teach, and provide feedback to promote and direct student learning in keeping with the institutional learning-centered values and in a manner that meets the essential competencies of an artist and designer. Our instructors respond to students in a timely manner and communicate with the discipline and division via college-provided tools and resources. We welcome instructors whose teaching experience addresses historically underrepresented communities. 

The successful candidate should be prepared to teach in person on the RISD Campus to a diverse group of students from a range of disciplines. Interpersonal and leadership skills, clarity, generosity, and creativity in both personal work and teaching are essential. Candidates should be prepared to develop culturally diverse syllabi for studio and seminar courses and lead classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions that encourage students to grow creatively and intellectually.

We are looking for an instructor whose specialty is in handloom weaving, to teach this 12-week introduction course on the Dorset standing loom. Knowledge of innovative variations of simple weave structures such as plain weave, twill, spaced warp, and double weave are a must and will be explored to create patterned and sculptural fabrics. The successful candidate will need to teach students to identify and exploit the properties of a variety of fibers and yarns and guide them through a series of experimental samples followed by a final project. The details of this project are open to discussion upon hiring. Note: Dorset looms are available for loan to students and instructors for the duration of the course.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required. MFA preferred or equivalent in established professional practice in area of study

• A track record of paid professional experience at companies successfully doing related work, and/or a robust, creative, intellectually and critically engaged design or studio practice, as evidenced by recognition in publications, commissions, exhibitions, awards and/or collaborative projects

• In person teaching experience, including the ability to create syllabi and lesson plans, and how to tie those to learning outcomes. In person course content; syllabus, learning outcomes, tutorials, assignments and other components such as intuitive navigation, lively discussions, and meaningful feedback as part of a successful class

• Ability to develop and implement diverse teaching and learning for different learning styles and to respond to the needs of learners from a variety of educational backgrounds in a multicultural environment

• Analytical, evaluative, and critical thinking skills

• Accept and act upon constructive feedback from course and classroom evaluations by students and staff

• Ability to meet RISD’s technology requirements  

• Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills

• Ability to develop syllabi and lead classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions, and that encourage students to grow creatively and intellectually

• In-depth knowledge of handloom weaving

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Teaching experience in a collegiate or adult education setting that addresses underrepresented communities

• Ability to convey complex art engagement ideas in a clear and articulate manner for an art and design program and design conc