Background Artist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Music Center seeks experienced, creative, and collaborative Teaching Artists in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, media arts, or multidisciplinary arts to provide high-quality arts education programming for students, educators, and community members throughout Los Angeles County.

Teaching Artists deliver engaging, standards-based arts instruction in a variety of educational and community settings, including schools, after-school programs, and community events. Working in partnership with classroom educators and Music Center staff, Teaching Artists foster creativity, artistic skill development, critical thinking, and meaningful learning experiences while supporting educational goals and community engagement.

Teaching Artists represent The Music Center professionally and are expected to create welcoming, inclusive learning environments that support participants of diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences, and abilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Plan, develop, and deliver engaging, age-appropriate arts instruction in one or more artistic disciplines.
• Design lesson plans that align with the California Arts Standards, Common Core State Standards, and program objectives.
• Facilitate workshops, classroom residencies, demonstrations, family programs, professional learning sessions, and community engagement activities as assigned.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers, school administrators, Music Center staff, and community partners to support shared educational outcomes.
• Modify instructional strategies and curriculum to meet the diverse learning needs, abilities, and developmental levels of participants.
• Foster inclusive, respectful, and positive learning environments that encourage creativity, participation, and student engagement.
• Utilize effective classroom management techniques to maintain safe and productive learning environments.
• Assess participant progress through observation, discussion, and other appropriate evaluation methods when required by program objectives.
• Communicate professionally and promptly with Music Center staff, educators, and program partners.
• Participate in planning meetings, orientations, trainings, continuing education sessions, and professional development opportunities as assigned.
• Receive and incorporate constructive feedback to strengthen instructional practice and program effectiveness.
• Represent The Music Center in a professional manner while adhering to organizational policies, procedures, and program expectations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must possess:

• A minimum of two (2) years of experience providing arts instruction in schools, community organizations, cultural institutions, or comparable educational settings.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one artistic discipline, including music, dance, theatre, visual arts, media arts, multidisciplinary arts.
• Knowledge of arts integration, arts education best practices, and age-appropriate instructional strategies.
• Experience working with culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.
• Proficiency with basic technology used for communication, lesson planning, and reporting.
• Availability to work primarily during school-day hours, generally between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional evenings or weekends as program needs require.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to travel to multiple locations throughout Los Angeles County.
• Ability to arrive punctually and reliably for scheduled assignments.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred candidates may possess:

• Arts Integration training.
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.
• Experience teaching students with diverse learning needs, including English learners and students with disabilities.
• Experience facilitating professional development for educators.
• Experience developing curriculum aligned with California Arts Standards.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with teachers, administrators, artists, and organizational staff.
• Strong classroom management, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Professional Development

Teaching Artists may be required to participate in orientation, planning meetings, artist trainings, and continuing education sessions. These sessions may be conducted in person at The Music Center or virtually and are designed to support instructional excellence, artistic growth, program consistency, and compliance with organizational expectations.

Employment Requirements

Prior to providing services, selected candidates must successfully complete all required onboarding and compliance requirements, which may include:

• Criminal background check, as permitted by applicable law.
• Tuberculosis (TB) clearance, if required by school district or program site.
• Verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with federal law.
• Completion of all required employment or independent contractor documentation, as applicable.