Youth Art Program Manager

Wayne Art Center is a vibrant community arts organization dedicated to providing exceptional opportunities for artistic exploration, education, and creative expression. Our youth programs introduce children and teens to the joy of making art while building confidence, encouraging curiosity, and fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

Job Status:
Full Time

Reports to:

Executive Director

Wayne Art Center is a vibrant community arts organization dedicated to providing exceptional opportunities for artistic exploration, education, and creative expression. Our youth programs introduce children and teens to the joy of making art while building confidence, encouraging curiosity, and fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

Wayne Art Center is seeking an enthusiastic, creative, organized, and community-minded Youth Art Programs Manager to lead and manage our youth and teen arts education programs.

This is an exciting opportunity for an arts professional who is passionate about working with children and teens and understands the power of art to foster creativity, confidence, self-expression, and a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

The Youth Art Programs Manager plays a central role in creating a welcoming, safe, and high-quality experience for youth and families. The position manages the day-to-day coordination of youth classes, workshops, summer art camp, outreach programs, exhibitions, and special events while providing direction to teaching artists, designated staff, interns, and volunteers.

The successful candidate will bring a positive attitude, confidence, warmth, excellent judgment, and genuine care for young people. This individual will be an important representative of Wayne Art Center to parents and caregivers and must be able to communicate with families in a confident, professional, responsive, and reassuring manner.

Youth Programs, Annual Planning, and Staff Management

• Lead and manage the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of youth and teen programs, including seasonal classes, summer art camp, workshops, outreach programs, and special events.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to develop and maintain an annual calendar of youth programs, events, exhibitions, registration periods, marketing activities, staffing needs, and key timelines.
• Follow the annual calendar and ensure that programs, communications, staffing, supplies, registration, marketing, and other activities are planned and completed in a timely manner.
• Manage, coordinate, and provide direction to teaching artists, designated staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Recruit, schedule, orient, supervise, and support program personnel.
• Provide clear expectations, guidance, and feedback and ensure appropriate follow-through.
• Review curricula and lesson plans and ensure required clearances and program documentation are current.
• Manage student enrollment, class rosters, attendance, medical forms, and other youth program records.
• Serve as the primary on-site supervisor during youth programs.
• Monitor program quality and address operational issues in a timely and professional manner.

Youth and Family Experience

• Create a welcoming, positive, and supportive environment for children, teens, and families.
• Demonstrate genuine care and concern for the safety, well-being, inclusion, and overall experience of youth participants.
• Serve as a confident, approachable, and professional point of contact for parents and caregivers.
• Communicate clearly and professionally regarding classes, schedules, policies, student needs, and special events.
• Respond to questions and concerns with empathy, confidence, sound judgment, and appropriate follow-through.
• Build positive relationships with families and strengthen their connection to Wayne Art Center.

Creative Program Development

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and teaching artists to develop innovative and engaging youth arts programming.
• Assist in developing the annual theme and sub-themes for Summer Art Camp.
• Research and incorporate art history, cultures, artistic movements, and influential artists into camp themes and projects.
• Develop creative weekly themes that balance hands-on artmaking, creative exploration, art appreciation, and age-appropriate learning.
• Build upon successful past programming, which incorporates art history and projects inspired by notable master artists.
• Identify opportunities to introduce…