Employment Opportunities

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey continually works to enrich, amaze and inspire all who pass through our doors. The Art Center provides an opportunity for employees to deepen their love of art while contributing their skills and talents. Throughout the year a variety of opportunities may become available.

The Art Center provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees.

Summer Art Camp Manager

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is seeking a Summer Art Camp Manager for June 15 – August 21, 2026. This position is responsible for facilitating the daily operations of our Summer Art Camp, which serves approximately 100 children ages 5-18 each week. Some tasks may include: overseeing counselors, volunteers, interns, and teachers; assigning campers to classrooms; organizing camper drop off and pickup; maintaining daily camper attendance; and other daily tasks as needed. Frequent physical work is required, lifting up to 50 pounds. Hours are Mondays-Fridays, 7:45am-3:45pm daily.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee schedule of day-to-day activities
  • Supervising preparation and distribution of art materials for daily projects
  • Monitoring inventory of art supplies throughout camp and reordering as needed
  • Administrative set up for each week (dividing campers into classroom groups based on age; creating attendance sheets, counselor, volunteer, and instructor sign in sheets; organizing lesson schedules, etc.)
  • Confirming camp staff work schedules and assignments
  • Supervise camp interns, counselors, and volunteers
  • Plan activities and order supplies needed for before/after care program
  • Run weekly counselor meeting on Monday mornings
  • Communicate daily with camp staff via the Slack app
  • Oversee drop-off and pick-up of campers
  • Oversee outside lunch and snack periods
  • Manage inquiries from parents/caregivers and answer questions about camp
  • Troubleshooting issues as they arise in conjunction with the Studio School Manager and Studio School Director
  • Resolving any interpersonal issues between staff or campers, with assistance from the Studio School Manager and Studio School Director
  • Perform other duties as requested by the Studio School Director

Qualifications

  • Art experience (studio art experience or familiarity with art supplies)
  • Experience working with kids and teens
  • Strong customer relations, written, and verbal communications skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative management style
  • Ability to work independently with excellent time management skills
  • Excellent computer skills and proficiency with Google docs, Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook, Slack
  • Excels at working in a fast paced, non-profit, team-oriented environment
  • Supervisory experience, particularly with high school and collage aged students
  • Frequent physical work is required for lifting and handling of supplies

Physical and Mental Demands
This position frequently requires mental demands of planning/organizing, making decisions, and problem solving, and supervising. This position requires the ability to frequently stand, sit, walk, squat, and climb stairs. These positions occasionally require the ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Work Environment
This position is frequently indoors in a studio environment and are occasionally exposed to potentially hazardous art materials. This position will work both indoors and outdoors in summer weather.

Pay Rate
This is a seasonal, hourly position. The pay rate is $22.50/hour.

How to Apply
As part of VACNJ’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion, we aim to amplify traditionally underrepresented voices. Although not required in the application, VACNJ encourages applicants to share their experience with DEAI initiatives. VACNJ is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Review of applications will begin immediately until position is filled. To apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to cdemski@artcenternj.org. Those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. All hires are required to successfully pass a background check and complete training as part of their onboarding.

Summer Art Camp Instructors

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is now accepting applications for passionate art instructors for our kid (ages 5 – 9), tween (ages 10 – 12), and teen (ages 13– 18) Summer Art Camps. Art Camp runs for 10 weeks from June 15 – August 21, 2026. Hours are 9:15am-3:30pm daily. Preference will be given to candidates who can commit to at least two full weeks, Mon-Fri.

We are currently seeking instructors with education, training, or experience in the visual arts who have a minimum of one-year teaching experience. The top candidates will love teaching, enjoy working with students, and be comfortable interacting with parents. They will be creative, flexible, able to manage a busy classroom, and problem-solve. We are looking for instructors who are understanding, patient and will strive to help our students learn about art.

Responsibilities for all Instructors:

  • Lead art projects for groups of up to 14 students in a variety of art media, ensuring successful results with room for individual expression (lessons provided for ages 5-9; lessons to be designed by teachers for ages 10-18);
  • Communicate regularly with Summer Camp Management about students, supplies, and any matters of interest;
  • Be a positive role model for the campers and summer camp staff;
  • Help to promote the best quality art experience possible in an upbeat, positive, and inclusive environment;
  • Provide guidance and feedback to camp counselors and interns in the classroom;
  • Follow and enforce all safety protocols.

Kids Instructors
We are seeking instructors to teach kids ages 5-9. Kids instructors teach three 90-minute art lessons a day, with the assistance of a counselor. Lesson plans and provided for all projects. Kids instructors should be familiar/comfortable teaching a wide range of art media, including: drawing, acrylic paint, watercolor, clay, papier-mâché colored pencils, markers, oil pastel, chalk pastel, and basic printmaking.

Tween and Teen Instructors
We are seeking instructors for the specialty camps listed below. Dates, times, and subject matter are NOT flexible. Tween and teen instructors will teach both morning and afternoon sessions (2 hours and 15 minutes each (M-F)). They will write and teach the curriculum for their camp, provide a list of art supplies they will need, and ensure that campers complete their projects throughout the week. We are specifically looking for instructors for the following media on the dates listed:

  • Summer Art Medium Sampler – Monday June 15 – Friday June 19 (tweens)
    Campers will get to try out a variety of mediums, including acrylics, watercolor, and charcoal. What will inspire your artistic journey? Find out in this exciting new camp.
  • Assemblage Sculpture – Monday August 3 – Friday August 7 (teen)
    Campers will transform everyday items into expressive, personal sculptures! Imagine all the artistic possibilities in combining materials such as paper, plastic, clay, and wire with found objects. Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, campers will learn various techniques to manipulate the materials and create one-of-a-kind sculptures.
  • Character Design & Fiber Arts – Monday August 17 – Friday August 21 (tweens)
    During this week of camp, campers will learn to design their own character(s) for comic books, graphic novels, or cartoons. They will focus on personality and expression, plus learn anatomy and posing using the human body as reference. We will also have a chance to explore costume design for their character. All this will come together in a project that features the character(s) they created.

Physical and Mental Demands
These positions frequently require mental demands of planning/organizing, making decisions, and problem solving. These positions occasionally require the mental demands of supervising. These positions require the ability to frequently stand, sit, walk, squat, and climb stairs. These positions occasionally require the ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Work Environment
These positions are frequently indoors in a studio environment and are occasionally exposed to potentially hazardous art materials.

As part of VACNJ’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion, we aim to amplify traditionally underrepresented voices. Although not required in the application, VACNJ encourages applicants to share their experience with DEAI initiatives. VACNJ is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Review of applications will begin immediately until positions are filled. To apply: Please send your resume and cover letter, as well as examples of your artwork to cdemski@artcenternj.org. Those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. All hires are required to successfully pass a background check, complete Youth Abuse Prevention Training, and provide an acceptable I9 document (e.g. a valid US passport or a valid driver’s license and Social Security card).

Teaching Assistant

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey offers a high-quality art education for students as young as age 5 through adults. The part-time teaching assistant position covers many responsibilities, and plays a crucial role in the success of our classes. Applicants must be a minimum of 16 years old, patient, enjoy working with children, have confidence in their ability to motivate and assist students, and have an interest in or appreciation for art. An assistant’s role includes being an extra set of hands and eyes for teachers before, during, and after class, as well as being a guardian and guide to the students. While each teacher will provide specific instructions, the main duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Helping set up classrooms
  • Gathering and preparing materials before class
  • Assisting students with art projects
  • Helping teachers as needed (making copies, getting supplies from other rooms, escorting younger students to restrooms, etc.)
  • Making sure supplies are returned to the appropriate place
  • Making sure storage areas are kept well maintained and orderly
  • Cleaning and sanitizing art supplies used by students
  • Cleaning and sanitizing work spaces of students
  • Escorting younger students to their parents at the end of class
  • Serving as a positive role model for students

Top candidates for this position enjoy working with students, particularly children between the ages of 5-17 years old, are creative, flexible, and willing to help wherever needed.

Physical and Mental Demands

This position frequently requires mental demands of observing, multitasking and supervising younger students. This position requires the ability to frequently stand, sit, walk, squat, and climb stairs. This position occasionally requires the ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.

Work Environment

This position is frequently indoors in a studio environment and is occasionally exposed to potentially hazardous art materials.

We are currently looking for part-time teaching assistants to work with us during the spring 2026 semester. The spring semester begins on Monday, March 30th and goes on for about 10 weeks. Most classes are held for 1-1.5 hours for kids classes and 1.5-2 hours for tweens/teens classes. Classes meet once a week and there are opportunities to work during the week and on weekends.

To apply, follow this link to complete the Teaching Assistant google application.

https://forms.gle/LQVQrtLiuYpcv6Bx6

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 6.

Applications will be reviewed and those selected will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls, please. All applicants must submit paperwork and if 18 years or older, clear a background check before they can be scheduled to work. Teaching assistants are paid minimum wage: $15.92/hourly and can work up to 24 hours a week. The average hours teaching assistants work in a week is between 6-12 hours.

The Visual Arts Center is committed to diversity. We encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to fostering a broadly diverse educational environment. The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is an EEO/AA employer, and we invite and encourage applications from BIPOC, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Position: Creative Arts Therapist and Arts & Healing Program Manager

Reports to: The Director of Education & Community Engagement
Position Type: Full Time, Exempt. Weekend and evening work, as required
Salary: $60,000-65,000 per year

This is a full-time position of 40 hours per week. The position is hybrid, with some in-person requirements, but with the option to work from home up to two days a week. This position reports to the Director of Education and Community Engagement and oversees teaching artists and art therapists facilitating art and healing programs.

Essential Functions

Facilitate Creative Art Therapy for groups and individuals approx. 12-15 hrs/week

  • Ability to process creative works with clients, when appropriate, through use of psychodynamic theories
  • Programs Include:
    • ECLC-Special Needs Adults; Once a week for 10-12 weeks/semester; group art therapy
    • SAGE Eldercare-Adults with degenerative brain disorders; Once a week 48 weeks/year; group art therapy
    • Veterans Haven North-Veterans in transitional housing; twice a week 48 weeks a year; group art therapy
    • NeighborCorps Re-entry-Formerly incarcerated individuals; 4-5 individuals once a week; one-on-one sessions
    • Healing Through Art-Justice impacted teens; new program; bi-weekly; group art therapy
    • Three additional fee for service programs

Clinical Administration approximately 12-15 hrs/week

  • Maintains inventory of art supplies, as well as, order site appropriate materials
  • Coordinate with Program Director to address client specific issues that have surfaced during art therapy sessions
  • Maintain an attendance record and sign the appropriate agreements
  • Provide monthly report to on/offsite supervisor
  • Supports the goals, objectives and mission statement set forth by the Board of Directors and the administration of the facility
  • Design and implement individualized treatment interventions to manage and mitigate stress, anxiety, as well as maladaptive behaviors, establish appropriate skills to adapt and reason, build confidence and self-esteem, and develop compensatory strategies to master critical life skills and coping skills necessary to re-enter the community productively when available.

Arts & Healing Program Administration approximately 10-12 hrs/week

  • Work with Director of Education to provide leadership for all aspects of art and healing program development, planning, scheduling and implementation
  • Work with Director of Education to conduct an ongoing evaluation of art and healing programs and activities with long-range goals in mind toward continuing growth of each program
  • Oversee Arts & Healing Programs including booking all workshops/programs, scheduling art therapists/teaching artists as needed, ordering supplies
  • Review, approve, and track all art & healing program expenses. Manage all art & healing program expenses within the budget.
  • Assist in interviewing, hiring and supervising, arts & healing program contracted teaching artists, art therapists and volunteers
  • Organize potential client art exhibits in-house and at the graduation/celebration ceremony when appropriate and with the agreement of the participants
  • Assists in special projects as required/requested

Qualifications:

  • Prior experience relevant to the area of clinical practice preferred
  • Education: Master’s degree from an Accredited Institution as per the Art Therapy Credentialing Board and The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) — REQUIRED
  • Board Certified and Registered Art Therapist and/or working toward hours to attain accreditation (ATR-BC) — REQUIRED
  • NJ LPAT (Licensed Professional Art Therapist) Licensure or provisional license — REQUIRED
  • Minimum 2 years experience working with one of the listed populations above

Physical and Mental Demands:

The position frequently requires mental demands of reading/writing, planning, making decisions, and problem solving. This position requires frequent use of computer and telephone. This position requires occasional lifting and carrying of up to 20 lbs.

To Apply

Please email a resume and cover letter to raponte@artcenternj.org. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. No phone calls please. All hires are required to be authorized to work in the United States and successfully pass a background check. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please note: only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

As part of VACNJ’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion, we aim to amplify traditionally underrepresented voices. Although not required in the application, VACNJ encourages applicants to share their experience with DEAI initiatives. VACNJ is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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