The Department of Art and Technology / Sound Practices (AT/SP) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position, beginning in August of 2024. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
The department is seeking candidates with expertise in kinetics, robotics, and electronic studio art. A sound-based element of practice is neither a requirement nor an impediment. Qualified candidates should be committed to teaching the next generation of technology-based artists in an equitable, anti-racist, interdisciplinary, and rigorous educational environment.
PROGRAM PROFILE
Art and Technology has had a unique and visionary position at SAIC for over 50 years, beginning as an area of study in 1969 with the founding of the Kinetics and Electronics research program. In 1970, the Generative Systems program explored image reproduction technologies and included some of the earliest uses of personal computers for art making, which led to the formation of the Department of Art and Technology Studies. Art and Technology now unites this legacy with that of the similarly long-lived Sound program into the newly integrated Department of Art and Technology / Sound Practices (AT/SP).
The Art and Technology component of AT/SP focuses on the use of technology as an artistic medium. Works produced in Art and Technology are often time-based, interactive, immersive, and multi-sensory, and use hybrids of retro and cutting-edge technologies. In its current configuration, faculty in this area teach numerous courses in the following disciplines: creative computing, programming, light, kinetics, robotics and electronics, audio, augmented reality, virtual reality and game design, bio art and the history and theory of these disciplines. Faculty also teach courses in exploratory areas that fall outside of these disciplines, such as poetic systems and olfactory art. The department offers courses in the practice, history, and theory of art and technology and the sonic arts.
Further information about the department can be found at: https://www.saic.edu/art-technology-studies
RESPONSIBILITIES
Full-time faculty in the Department of Art and Technology / Sound Practices (AT/SP) teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students of diverse backgrounds within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment of SAIC. The Department seeks candidates with expertise in kinetics, robotics, and electronic studio art, an area of practice that might include robots and other autonomous machines, self-contained moving objects and installations, pneumatic and airborne systems, remote-controlled devices, wearable technologies, bio-electronic experiments, and many other kinds of kinetic, robotic, and electronic works. The faculty member will teach in areas that contribute to the general goals of the department as well as in their area of specialization; take a leadership role in forging the future of the department and its supporting facilities; participate in student advising, admissions events, committee work, and special projects; contribute to the SAIC community through ongoing curricular development and SAIC’s shared governance model to invite and encourage interdisciplinary initiatives across departments and programs; and contribute to a visionary, supportive, inclusive, and anti-racist learning environment.
QUALIFICATIONS
An MFA or a terminal degree in a relevant field of study is preferred. Significant teaching experience is preferred. The department seeks artists with a background in machining, manual and digital fabrication, and who also work directly with new technologies, such as code, software, and hardware. It is important that candidates demonstrate their integration of skills with a strong conceptual and historical grasp of contemporary issues in the intersecting worlds of art, science, technology, and new media. Given its position in an art school with an interdisciplinary focus, the Department of Art and Technology / Sound Practices is committed to alternative forms and practices that emphasize innovation. We recognize that current artistic practices combine media within several modes of exhibition, including but not limited to galleries, museums, theaters, festivals, workshops, and urban spaces. The ideal candidate will contribute to the diversity of the School by bringing a perspective, way of thinking, and/or a unique set of experiences that expand the intellectual conversations and practices in the field of Art and Technology. We seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds. 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 12, 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
● Diversity statement
● Statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from racial, ethnic, gender, and/or socio-economic backgrounds that are underrepresented in your academic field
● Statement of research and practice
● Documentation of a selection of professional work
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 [email protected]. 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, Ed.D., Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, [email protected]
Section 504 Coordinator
Robert Babcock, Ed.D., Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, [email protected]
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 [email protected].