Artist in Residence

CONTRACTED POSITION

ABOUT THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER:
MISSION STATEMENT: Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is a lab for understanding ourselves, others,
and the world around us through the experience and creation of all contemporary art forms.

CAC BACKGROUND: CAC was founded in 1939 by three women with their eyes on the future. Today,
our purpose is to champion open minds and foster an inclusive culture by using contemporary art
and mutual learning as vehicles for connecting people, cultivating creativity, and catalyzing
curiosity. CAC now operates on a ~$4M annual operating budget and offers 4 – 5 significant
exhibitions per year, including group and solo exhibitions originated by CAC curator(s), guest
curators, and touring exhibition partners. It is the oldest non-collecting contemporary art center in
the country and one of the largest, occupying an 80,000 sq. ft. building, with approximately 22,000
sq. ft. devoted to exhibition and performance space. CAC is poised to continue its 86-year legacy of
being the premier venue for contemporary art in the Greater Cincinnati region with a recently
completed strategic plan that will serve as its programmatic and operational blueprints for the next
5 years.

LOCATION: CAC is located in an architectural gem in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, designed by
Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. The Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art was
heralded by The New York Times as “the most important American building to be completed since
the end of the cold war” and was lauded for its community- centric approach to the design process.

SCOPE OF POSITION (General Description):
This position reports directly to the Teen Programs Manager and the Director of Education. The Artist in
Residence will work Wednesdays (3:30-6:30pm) and Saturdays (12:30am-3:30pm) during one of the three
residency periods (October-January, February-May, or June-August). Their responsibilities include working with
drop-in visitors of all ages in the CAC’s Creativity Center, developing and facilitating art projects inspired by the
artist’s own work, encouraging visitors to discuss art critically and think creatively. The position provides a $2,800
honorarium for each 4-month residency and a $2,100 honorarium for the 3-month summer residency; art
materials and equipment are covered by the CAC.

The CAC has long been a laboratory for artists offering the unique opportunity to explore new techniques and
concepts within our gallery walls and the city. In this tradition, we invite contemporary artists to set-up shop in
the Creativity Center Studio in the form of an educational residency.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE SPECIFIC DUTIES:
• Facilitate art programming at the CAC and the Wednesday outreach events. Duties include assisting
visitors with art making, highlighting your own artwork and encouraging collaborative discussion, general
customer service, assist in set up/take down of the program, creating a list of art supplies, and
development of art projects.
• Work with CAC Educators and the Hamilton County Youth Detention Center to provide monthly outreach workshops at the center for a select group of art-focused students. Those outreach dates are flexible.
• The CAC’s Artist in Residence program provides artists with the opportunity to explore their own personal practice, while engaging and collaborating with the community.

RECRUITMENT & HIRING: The CAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) where all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, Veteran, or disability status.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION: The Contemporary Arts Center believes that contemporary art thrives through a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and voices. We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and to fostering a workplace where all staff feel valued, supported, and able to contribute meaningfully to our mission.
We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and encourage individuals from communities historically underrepresented in the arts and nonprofit sectors to apply. We recognize that candidates bring varied experiences and paths to their work, and we encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification listed.
The Contemporary Arts Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

ALL OF THESE DUTIES ARE TO BE DONE WITH OVERALL CAC BUSINESS IN MIND. THE PERSON IN THIS POSITION WILL BE CONCIOUS OF OTHER CAC PROGRAMS, EXHIBITION NEEDS AND CAC POLICY AND PROCEDURES.

REQUIREMENTS:
• Previous teaching experience or experience working with teens or community focused art projects is recommended.
• The ideal candidate will be proficient in a variety of art making techniques with an interest in contemporary art.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent writing and time management skills.
• Work schedule is Wednesdays 3:30-6:30pm and Saturdays 12:30pm-3:30pm during one of the three residency periods (October-January, February-May, or June-August).

Application Process:
Please send an artist statement that focuses on the themes of your residency, a resume, and work samples to: ehardin-klink@cincycac.org by August 9, 2026. Please provide link(s) to or images of a portfolio/website/Instagram account for examples of past works. Application materials can be mailed or emailed. No phone calls accepted, nor will they be returned. The Contemporary Arts Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contemporary Arts Center
44 East 6th Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Attn: Human Resources