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.

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.