Updates for 2023
Teaching Artist contracts and the Marwen Emerging Teaching Artist roles
Marwen’s mission is to educate and inspire young people to nurture their growth and build their futures through art and community. Centering young people is at the core of our work, and creating a fair and equitable Marwen is a top priority. As we head into 2023, we want to transparently communicate changes to both our teaching artist (TA) contracts and the Marwen Emerging Teaching Artist (META) role.
The scope of independent contractor work and the META program will shift due to the results of several bodies of work, including a recent organization-wide pay equity study with BLVE Consults and year-long racial equity work with T.H.E. Fellowship. Included in this work were surveys and conversations with Marwen staff, teaching artists, families, and board members.
We acknowledge that some of these shifts might be seen as a challenge for some members of our community. We recognize and respect teaching artistry and the value it brings to the young people at the center of our work. We encourage open conversation and invite our community to share their feedback and ideas as we navigate 2023 and the sustainable future of Marwen and its free arts programming for Chicago youth.
For Marwen Teaching Artists
What is changing within contracts and scope of work?
> There will be 55 contract hours per term starting Spring 2023. For comparison, there were 81 hours in 2022.
> Payment will increase from $45 (2022) to $50/hour in 2023.
> The decrease in hours correlates to a change in the scope of work. Marwen received feedback from the BLVE pay equity study that there is a need for role clarity. This prompted us to begin to address how and where to make changes. The hours removed from TA contracts include required professional development (PD), META development meetings, and additional prep time. There may be paid PD opportunities available outside of contracted work.
> The TA Request for Proposals (RFP) will shift to a rolling application structure.
> The RFP now includes a full year's schedule (3 terms) and information about multi-term contract options.
For META
What is changing within contracts and scope of work?
> Marwen is developing and launching a pilot program focused on emerging artists developing their teaching artist practice. We collectively identified a need for a new program model to support, develop, and sustain teaching artistry in Chicago, and we’re excited to be part of developing the next generation of TAs.
> META will shift from term-based independent contractors to year-long, temporary part-time staff positions.
> META will include 65 total work hours for Spring 2023. For reference, META worked 78 hours for the previous Spring and Fall terms.
> The shift in hours is represented in doubling in-class time, adding workshop facilitation opportunities, removing prep time, and decreasing the number of development meetings.
> Payment will increase from $20/hr (2022) to $22/hour.
> The application process will shift from an RFP to a job application structure starting Spring 2023.
Next steps + communications
In addition to ongoing term-based TA surveys; email communications to current and past TAs, partner organizations, and educators across Chicago; Marwen will hold multiple, in-person, group Q&A sessions (including follow-up surveys) as well as one-on-one Q&A opportunities. Marwen will also post all RFPs and job descriptions on Marwen’s website, job sites, and social media.
Please join us for a Q&A on Tuesday, December 6, 6-7:30 pm at Marwen, 833 N. Orleans Street to share feedback, questions, and ideas around TA and META contracts and scope of work. Pizza, salad, and beverages will be provided. RSVP by Friday, December 2.
The TA course proposal application and META job decription can be found here.
