VISITING ARTIST

Visiting Artist

Genre: Young Creatives Residency · Genre: Urban Arts

About the role

Genre: Urban Arts is looking for working artists to lead two 4-hour workshops in their own creative practice for the Genre: Young Creatives Residency. Participants range from 8th graders to young adult creatives, so your workshops should meet beginners where they are while still challenging those with experience.

The residency offers free workshops in written, visual and performance arts at partner venues including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Cr8tv House and Satélite Gallery. Participants study, discuss and create art in professional settings, build portfolios, and present original work with artist statements at a public exhibition at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts.

Whether you write, paint, photograph, perform, design, make music or work across forms, we want you to teach the way you create.

Details

Two 4-hour workshops (8 teaching hours), plus planning and a short reflection

Participants: 8th grade through young adult creatives

Location: Partner venues in Milwaukee, WI

Term: Beginning January 2027, with some workshops running into the summer

Employment type: 1099 contractor

Reports to: Nakeysha Roberts, Director

Compensation: $250 per workshop ($500 total)

What you’ll do

Before the workshops

  • Design two connected 4-hour workshops in your discipline, with a clear goal for each session and something participants make or draft by the end.

  • Plan activities that work for a mixed group, from 8th graders trying something new to young adult creatives building their practice.

  • Once you sign the Teaching Artist Agreement, submit a full workshop plan and materials list to the Director at least two weeks before your first session.

During the workshops

  • Share your own work and process, including how you got started and how you sustain your practice.

  • Lead hands-on making, with demonstrations, prompts and time to experiment with new mediums or techniques.

  • Guide discussion and constructive peer feedback on technique, themes and cultural perspectives.

  • Build a welcoming, respectful space where participants of different ages, backgrounds and experience levels take creative risks.

  • Work alongside Genre staff, who will be present at every session.

After the workshops

  • Write a short reflection (one page or less) on what worked, what participants created and any follow-up you recommend.

  • Share prompts, references or resources participants can use to keep developing work for their portfolios and the residency exhibition.

  • If you’re available, attend the residency exhibition to see participants’ finished work.

Qualifications

Required

  • An active creative practice in any discipline: writing, visual art, photography, performance, music, fashion, film, design or interdisciplinary work.

  • A body of work you can share, such as a portfolio, publications, performances or exhibitions.

  • Experience teaching, mentoring or leading workshops, formally or informally.

  • Ability to engage teens and young adults in the same room, adjusting for different skill levels.

  • Willingness to complete a background check for work with minors.

Preferred

  • Experience teaching youth or community arts programs.

  • Ties to Milwaukee’s creative communities.

  • Experience working with Black, Brown, queer and other communities historically left out of creative spaces.

  • Comfort teaching in museum, gallery or studio settings.

What Genre provides

  1. Planning call (1 hour): a conversation with the Director about the residency, the group and your workshop ideas.

  2. Paperwork: W-9, a signed Teaching Artist Agreement and a background check for work with minors.

  3. Group profile: a short overview of participants’ ages, interests and experience levels before your first session.

  4. Venue and logistics: a confirmed partner venue, schedule and setup support.

  5. Materials: basic supplies, with a materials budget for anything specific to your workshop. [Budget amount to be set by Genre]

  6. On-site staff: Genre staff at every session to manage attendance, behavior and logistics, so you can focus on teaching.

Compensation and how to apply

Compensation is $250 per workshop ($500 for both), paid as a 1099 contractor and covering planning, both workshops and the written reflection. Workshop dates are scheduled with each Visiting Artist beginning January 2027 and may run into the summer.

To apply, email hello@GenreUrbanArts.com with “Visiting Artist” in the subject line. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Include:

  1. A short bio and your discipline.

  2. A link to your portfolio, website or work samples.

  3. A workshop description of 300 words or fewer: what participants would explore and make across the two sessions. A full workshop plan and materials list will be requested once you sign the Teaching Artist Agreement.

  4. Your general availability from January 2027 through the summer.

Equal opportunity

Genre: Urban Arts is an equal opportunity organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, military or veteran status, arrest or conviction record (except where substantially related to the role, as Wisconsin law allows), or any other status protected by federal, Wisconsin or Milwaukee law.

We especially encourage Black, Brown, queer, disabled and Milwaukee-rooted creatives to apply. If you need an accommodation to apply or to do this work, email hello@GenreUrbanArts.com.