FULL-TIME VISITING FACULTY POSITION IN FILM, VIDEO, NEW MEDIA, AND ANIMATION

The Department of Film, Video, New Media and Animation (FVNMA) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications from experimental, narrative filmmakers for a 1-year full-time visiting artist position beginning in January of 2023 and ending in December of 2023.

DEPARTMENT PROFILE

The Department of Film, Video, New Media and Animation began nearly a half century ago and has moved far beyond traditional approaches to the media arts. Our commitment to interdisciplinarity crosses a broad spectrum of disciplines and genres, including: non-fiction, narrative and experimental film and video, animation, time-based installation, and new media. Today FVNMA is home to an award-winning faculty of artists, thinkers, curators, historians, and media activists, as well as a gifted group of undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. One of the largest studio programs at SAIC, the Department of FVNMA has ten tenured faculty members and more than twenty-five part-time faculty members with a very broad range of expertise.

Closely associated with FVNMA are several significant organizations and programs. Conversations at the Edge (CATE), a series founded by FVNMA in 2001 and held at the Gene Siskel Film Center, is a major meeting place in Chicago for the international media arts community. The Video Data Bank (VDB), one of the leading resources in the United States for videotapes by and about contemporary artists, is located on campus, where it maintains both analog and digital archives, actively engages in the preservation of video art works, commissions critical texts that contextualize artists’ work, and oversees the publication of curated programs and artists’ monographs. The Gene Siskel Film Center is one of the country’s premiere screening venues dedicated to festival series that celebrate diverse voices and international cultures. The Gene Siskel Film Center also premieres trailblazing work by independent filmmakers, restores and revives essential films from cinema history, and hosts insightful, provocative discussions with filmmakers and media artists. In addition, The Art Institute of Chicago’s Stone Gallery, housed within the museum’s Modern Wing, showcases a world-class collection of film, video, and new media works by an international array of contemporary artists. Further information about the department can be found at: http://www.saic.edu/academics/departments/fvnma/

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Full-Time Visiting Artist in Film, Video, New Media, and Animation will teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment of SAIC. They will teach both studio courses and seminars designed to develop conceptual, critical, and technical knowledge and skills. They will mentor and critique undergraduate and graduate students’ independent and collaborative projects. Teaching duties include lectures on formal approaches to making alternative narrative cinema, as well as the ethics of crew-based/narrative production, and one-on-one advising.

QUALIFICATIONS

MFA in filmmaking or other terminal degree in a relevant field of study is preferred. Exceptional candidates with equivalent experience in the field are also encouraged to apply. Some teaching experience is preferred, particularly within innovative film production pedagogies. Applicants should be active filmmakers who are exhibiting their work nationally and/or internationally. Filmmakers in the early stages of their career with recent high-profile work, as well as mid-career filmmakers, are encouraged to apply. The department is particularly interested in filmmakers working in alternative, DIY, independent, or experimental approaches to live action, narrative cinema. Experience with directing actors and performers, screenwriting, crew-based/collaborative production is essential, as is a knowledge of world cinema histories and theories. The ideal candidate will contribute to the diversity of the school by bringing a vision, methodology and a distinct set of experiences that expand the intellectual conversations and artistic practices in the field of narrative filmmaking. We seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds, and who will create a positive, inventive, and productively critical learning environment.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

On or before September 15, 2022 please submit application materials via http://SAICfaculty.slideroom.com. You will be asked to create an account after which time you may complete the application composed of fill-in fields and uploaded documents. SAIC will underwrite the application fees; you will not be charged to apply for the position. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the deadline. No applications may be submitted beyond the deadline for any reason.

Complete the fields for: educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references. Please convert all word documents into PDFs before uploading. Required files to upload include:

• cover letter stating your interests and qualifications
• resume or curriculum vitae
• statement of teaching philosophy including your thoughts on teaching a diverse student population and creating an inclusive learning environment
• artist statement
• diversity statement
• documentation of professional work (please provide links to complete films)
• 2 to 3 examples of course syllabi

QUESTIONS

Questions about this position, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. Please consult www.saic.edu for information on the School and its programs.

ABOUT SAIC

A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.

Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MDes in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; New Arts Journalism; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Art Institute of Chicago, including both the school and the museum, is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. The Art Institute of Chicago does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Title IX Coordinator
Robert Babcock, 116 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60603, rbabco@artic.edu. 

Section 504 Coordinator
Felice Dublon, PhD, Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs, The Office of Student Affairs, 36 S. Wabash Ave., suite 1204, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.629.6800, fdublon@saic.edu.

For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the Office for Civil Rights Discrimination for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 800.421.3481.

REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS

SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you need an accommodation to participate in an interview, please contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, at mscranton@saic.edu.