Maine College of Art, located in Portland, Maine, delivers a demanding and enlivening education in visual art and design within an intimate learning community.  We teach each student how to transform aspirations and values into a creative practice that serves as the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of personal and professional goals.  Founded in 1882 and fully accredited, MECA educates artists at all stages of their creative careers, offering both the Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degrees as well as a wide range of professional institutes and continuing studies classes for individuals of all ages. The College gallery, the Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA, has been hailed as one of the finest art spaces in the Northeast for the exhibition of leading edge contemporary art.

MECA is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design. Maine College of Art an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual preference, handicap, race, age, color, national or ethnic origin in hiring and employment practices. 

Please check JobsInME for additional opportunities at MECA.

Artist in Residence

August 15 2013 – May 31 2014

It is with great enthusiasm that Maine College of Art (MECA) announces its support of an Artist in  Residence in Metalsmithing and Jewelry. This program provides beginning to mid-career artists with the time and space to work and the opportunity to teach in a vibrant and creative atmosphere.

In the BFA Metalsmithing and Jewelry Department at Maine College of Art we believe students learn best and reach their greatest potential within a challenging yet supportive environment. We consider the education of an emerging artist as a three-fold process: to increase visual sensitivity, to refine one's technical skills, and to develop a students’ intellectual and critical capabilities. Value is placed on a reciprocal exchange between students and faculty that relies on a commitment to learning and teaching, research and inquiry, a disciplined work ethic, and the ability to take risks as a means to discovery.

Our four-year curriculum is designed to communicate both the breadth and depth of our field and to foster independent artists who can bring to fruition a personal and responsible aesthetic expression  that is informed by both research and practice.

Benefits:   

• Bench/studio space in the Metalsmithing and Jewelry major’s studio with 24/7 access

• Free private apartment within one block of MECA and a $12,000.00 stipend

• Full access to MJ studio equipment that includes casting, enameling, forming and raising facilities, a small scale milling machine, a CNC router, and a spray etcher

Responsibilities include:   

• Teach 2 BFA classes per semester (4 for the year) in the Metalsmithing and Jewelry Department

• Provide mentorship to BFA students

• To exhibit, at MECA or a local venue, a completed body of work done over the course of the residency

• Present a public lecture to the MECA community

Eligibility:

• Artists who have received their MFA in the field of Metalsmithing and Jewelry whose work is innovative

• Technically proficient in Metalsmithing and/or Jewelry skills

• Must work well within a community environment.

• Teaching experience preferred

Application Procedure

Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately and will be accepted until an appointment is made. Review of applications will begin on 20 May 2013 and will continue until the position is filled. Application materials must be sent digitally in a single PDF, not to exceed a 25MB file size. Email the document to employment@meca.edu. Place <Metals Search: [FirstName LastName]> in the subject line.

1. MFA or equivalent professional experience

2. Twenty (20) images of your own work or a suitable weblink with descriptions. If sending images please read the following carefully:

Images should be labeled as follows: 01_YOURLASTNAME.jpg, 02_yourlastname.jpg, etc.

3. CV/Resume

4. List of three professional references

5. One-page statement of intent

Maine College of Art does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual preference, handicap, race, age, color, national or ethnic origin in hiring and employment policies and encourages candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply.

INSTITUTION

Maine College of Art is an independent college of art and design located in the center of the thriving arts district of Portland, Maine. Established in 1882, the College currently enrolls approximately 400 students. In addition, about 1500 students take classes through MECA’s Continuing Studies program annually. MECA’s Joanne Waxman Library is an important public resource of art- and design-oriented books and periodicals for the region. The Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA is a vibrant site for the exhibition of contemporary art.

MECA is characterized by its intimate learning community, its interdisciplinary nature, and the breadth and depth of its programs. It confers the degrees of Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, and offers a graduate-level program in Art Education. MECA employs approximately 100 faculty and staff. The College’s BFA program offers eleven majors and three minors. MECA’s MFA is an innovative two-year low-residency program with approximately thirty students. Our goal at MECA is to teach each student how to transform aspirations and values into a creative practice that serves as the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of personal and professional goals.

MECA is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design.

Currently, there are no staff positions available at MECA. Please check back soon.