Work at YAX
Director of Community Arts Centers (Center Director) Posted 4/14/2025
Youth Art Exchange’s (YAX) Director of Community Arts Centers (Center Director) is a new, dynamic, hands-on leadership role responsible for overseeing our youth and community arts center locations in the Excelsior and Mission Districts. Each art center is located on the ground floor of 100% affordable housing. They feature gallery and event spaces, a photography darkroom, music recording studio, a printshop, fashion studio, classroom spaces, and more. This is an exciting stage for YAX as we are now focusing on building out robust programming and operations to support these vibrant centers and to further YAX as a leader in innovative arts programming. YAX’s work is centered on racial equity, and that will be critical to all aspects of this position.
This position requires a creative and organized individual who is passionate about arts education and community engagement. The Center Director will oversee our youth and community programming and operations of our centers and extension work in San Francisco. The Center Director is also a public spokesperson for all YAX programs and our mission. The role demands the ability to balance long-term initiatives and visioning with day-to-day operations, work collaboratively with staff, teaching artists and partners, and create a welcoming environment for youth and the broader community.
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter highlighting your interest in the position and how your experience has prepared you to lead a youth and community art center to center@youthartexchange.org with the subject line “Last Name”- Application Materials. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled with the first review of candidates on April 30th. Please note, no relocation costs will be provided. Ideally this position would start June 2, 2025.
Starting salary for this position is $80,000-90,000 commensurate with experience.
YAX is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from communities historically underrepresented in the arts.
Youth Art Exchange, a project of Tides Center, is an "at‐will" and equal opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise Youth Art Exchange/Tides in writing of special needs at the time of application.
Full job description available here.
Darkroom Assistant Posted 2/10/2025
Youth Art Exchange (YAX) is looking for a darkroom assistant who will provide teaching assistance and darkroom and photo tech support in partnership with our Darkroom Photography faculty artists. We will be offering open studios for students enrolled in Darkroom Photography and also want additional support in the classroom. We anticipate 8-13 hours per week at $25.00-$30.00/hour when classes are in session. Sample schedule would be Monday-Wednesday 4-7pm and Saturdays 2-6pm. Please send resume and brief intro sharing darkroom and teaching experience to apply@youthartexchange.org.
Faculty Artist Pool Positions Updated 4/14/2025
Youth Art Exchange is dedicated to supporting its faculty of professional artists. Our faculty is comprised of artists who are active in their practices in the Bay Area.
We are hiring for our pool of artists for after school and summer programming, community workshops, and tuition-based classes.
Please submit your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the position, discipline and practice, vision for how your discipline can be used as a tool for social change, dedication to working with youth/community in the arts, and relevant education and experience to apply@youthartexchange.org.
For our after school programming, our Youth Advisory Board interviews finalists and finalists are required to present a sample 15-minute session at this interview.
Youth Art Exchange, a project of Tides Center, is an "at‐will" and equal opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise Youth Art Exchange/Tides in writing of special needs at the time of application.
Youth Art Exchange strongly encourages people of color, women, and LGBTQI+ applicants to apply.