Tenure Track Opportunity in Visual Arts, Northwestern Polytechnic

Sessional Visual Arts Instructor in Painting
Northwestern Polytechnic

True North

As the largest post-secondary institution in northern Alberta, Northwestern Polytechnic is a natural point of convergence for knowledge, skills, creativity, and collaboration. Striving to spark and empower success, NWP’s mission is geared towards both individual and collective progress. NWP offers a wide variety of engaging and in-demand academic programs in certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, and degrees. We exist wholeheartedly for the domestic and international students who call our campuses home, the distinctive communities, and industries we serve, and the staff and faculty who honour us with their expertise and insights every day.

The School

The role is within our School of Applied Sciences and Technology. The departments within the School are located on our Grande Prairie campus and our Fairview campus. The School offers a variety of programming in Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, and Animal Sciences. Through this programming, we offer a variety of certificates, diplomas, university transfer courses, as well as a degree in computing science.

Our facilities include painting, drawing, and sculpture studios with workshop for wood and ceramics, and a computer lab with static media and video editing capabilities. We enjoy bright, open, and spacious work areas, extended studio access, with small class sizes. Neighbouring resources include the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, Doris Space for Art, Beaverlodge Art and Cultural Centre, and the Centre for Creative Arts.

The Role

The Department of Fine Arts is seeking a versatile Visual Arts Instructor with a specialization in Painting. This full-time sessional position will commence August 15, 2025 – April 30, 2026. This is a tenure-track position based on favourable evaluations.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate level courses in Visual Arts, advise students, assist with recruitment events, participate in critique sessions, mentor students, serve on department and college committees, and actively contribute to and participate in the Fine Arts Department’s vibrant co-curricular programming.

The successful candidate will teach the following courses:

Fall Semester:
AR1101 2D Fundamentals
AR2101 Intermediate Painting

Winter Semester:
AR1201 Introduction to Painting
AR2201 Advanced Painting

Other courses may be considered based on the background and expertise of the successful candidate. The ability to instruct in additional studio disciplines will be considered an asset.

What We Offer

NWP offers lifelong learning opportunities through professional development/wellness programs, a competitive salary and compensation package and a student-centered culture that is vital to our community. Faculty members have access to Professional Development funds and opportunity to apply for Professional Leave with Financial Assistance.

Job Requirements

Necessary skills and attributes to be successful in this role include:

• Candidate must have a master’s degree in fine arts or a related field within the specialization of painting. Candidate must be a working artist with a significant exhibition record, college-level teaching experience and must demonstrate the ability to continue an ongoing, excellent, and dynamic art practice. We seek an applicant with a broad knowledge of contemporary art, the ability to address works across disciplines and strong leadership skills.
• Candidate must be able to apply different instructional strategies to meet the needs of students with different learning styles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Student Focused.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships across the organization.
• A high level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

How to Apply

Only applications received electronically will be considered.
Upon submission of CVs, please also include:

• A Cover Letter
• 15 Images of Student Work
• 20 Artist Images and Image List
• Teaching Philosophy
• Research Statement
• A sample Course Outline with Project Descriptions
• 3 Evaluation Reports from previously taught courses
• Reference list (3 professional references)

Applications are to be submitted to the Northwestern Polytechnic website. If the image files are too large, please email humanresources@nwpolytech.ca.

The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We review all applications to select candidates whose qualifications and experience most closely meet our needs.

Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. For general inquiries, please contact HR at humanresources@nwpolytech.ca.

Position is subject to budget approval.

Thank you for applying to NWP!

Human Resources Department, Northwestern Polytechnic
humanresources@nwpolytech.ca
10726 106 Avenue
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4C4

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