The Department of Film, Video, New Media and Animation (FVNMA) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position from candidates with expertise in experimental film and video, to begin in August 2024. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with the quality of the practice, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
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 mediums 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 nine 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, 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. FVNMA is at the heart of Chicago's vibrant alternative and experimental media culture.
Further information about the department can be found at: http://www.saic.edu/academics/departments/fvnma/
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Full-Time Faculty 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.
In addition to teaching, full-time faculty participate in the SAIC community through ongoing curricular development (including designing new courses and reevaluating instructional pathways in the department), departmental administration, and school governance.
QUALIFICATIONS
MFA 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. Artists in the early stages of their career with recent, high-profile work are encouraged to apply. Candidates should be practicing media artists who are exhibiting their work nationally and/or internationally, working in innovative and alternative forms of filmmaking. This work may manifest in a variety of ways: non-fiction, narrative and experimental film, video and time-based installation. The ideal candidate will have advanced proficiency in both production and post-production workflows.
Some teaching experience is preferred, particularly within media production pedagogies. Candidates should be committed to a theory-practice model, with an emphasis on experimentation in the creation of challenging content in various modes of production, methods of presentation, and forms of dissemination. 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 conversation and artistic practices. We seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds, and who will create a positive, inventive, inclusive and productively critical learning environment. Candidates should demonstrate their experience with, or aptitude for, departmental administration.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday, January 8, 2024 for full consideration. 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, which consists of fill-in fields and required documents to upload. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the priority deadline. Applications will not be accepted after February 8, 2024.
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
- 2 to 3 examples of course syllabi
All applicants for this position must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials in order to be considered as a candidate and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check should the candidate ultimately be selected as a finalist for the position.
QUESTIONS
Questions regarding the School and its open positions, 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, or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.
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; 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.
