Artist-in-Residence and Department Head - Metals

Cranbrook Educational Community•Bloomfield Hills, MI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Cranbrook Academy of Art seeks a full-time Artist-in-Residence in Metals, focused on jewelry and contemporary metals, for a three-year renewable graduate faculty appointment beginning in August 2027. The Artist-in-Residence is expected to live and work on campus; private housing and a studio are provided. The successful candidate will lead the Metals program, mentor a highly selective community of graduate students, maintain an active professional practice, and contribute to the Academy’s intellectual and creative life. The role calls for an accomplished artist, designer, maker, and educator with deep material knowledge and technical expertise, an experimental and interdisciplinary outlook, and a commitment to expanding the field beyond traditional boundaries of craft, art, and design. Cranbrook’s graduate education model emphasizes close mentorship, individual studio practice, and sustained critical dialogue. The Artist-in-Residence leads a department of up to 15 graduate students, setting the program’s pedagogical direction and supporting students through individualized mentorship, studio visits, critiques, demonstrations, and other learning experiences. The position also contributes to Academy-wide programming and interdisciplinary exchange. The Artist-in-Residence provides day-to-day leadership for the Metals program, including studio and department operations, student recruitment, budget development and management, and program visibility. The role involves collaboration with Academy leadership, administrative staff, the department Studio Manager, facilities staff, and marketing, communications, and recruitment teams. The successful candidate will connect students with practitioners and professional opportunities through visiting artists, workshops, studio visits, exhibitions, and other engagements, and help prepare them for varied professional pathways. Cranbrook Academy of Art is a graduate-only institution offering studio-based programs in art, architecture, and design. Its educational model emphasizes individual artistic development, close mentorship, interdisciplinary exchange, and learning through making. The Metals department is one of nine departments at the Academy.

Requirements

A terminal degree in art, design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Experience teaching or mentoring in higher education.
An established, active artistic practice with a national or international reputation in jewelry, adornment, contemporary metals, or related object-based practices.
Demonstrated expertise in relevant materials, techniques, and processes, alongside openness to interdisciplinary and experimental approaches.
Ability to foster an inclusive, equitable, and diverse learning environment.
Strong communication, critical feedback, and mentorship skills.
Ability to develop educational programming and engage with contemporary issues in metalsmithing, jewelry, and related fields.

Nice To Haves

At least five years of teaching or mentoring experience in higher education, preferably at the graduate level.
Experience with graduate student recruitment, portfolio review, and admissions processes.
Demonstrated success working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary educational environment.
Experience developing partnerships with artists, practitioners, alumni, galleries, cultural institutions, or community organizations.
Experience with entrepreneurial practice, professional development, or innovative educational programming.
Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills, including experience managing a studio, workshop, or departmental resources.

Responsibilities

Lead the Metals program and mentor up to 15 graduate students through individualized guidance, studio visits, critiques, demonstrations, and sustained critical dialogue.
Establish the program’s curriculum, pedagogical approach, and educational priorities in collaboration with Academy leadership and fellow Artists-in-Residence.
Foster an inclusive, challenging, and supportive studio environment that encourages experimentation, independent thinking, and artistic growth.
Develop opportunities for students to engage with visiting artists, jewelers, designers, collectors, galleries, and cultural institutions.
Contribute to Academy-wide initiatives, programming, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities.
Oversee the Metals department’s operations, studio facilities, workshops, tools, and equipment in collaboration with the department Studio Manager, Cranbrook facilities staff, and institutional partners.
Develop and manage the department’s budget in collaboration with Academy leadership.
Maintain a safe, functional, and well-equipped environment that supports traditional and experimental metalworking practices.
Lead student recruitment efforts, including recruitment strategy, applicant communications, portfolio reviews, and interviews, in collaboration with the Academy’s recruitment team.
Communicate the program’s vision, strengths, and educational opportunities to prospective students and the broader arts community.
Contribute to departmental marketing and communications in collaboration with the Academy’s marketing and communications team.
Maintain an active professional practice with national or international visibility through exhibitions, commissions, publications, speaking engagements, professional networking, and entrepreneurial activity.
Participate in the broader intellectual, artistic, and community life of Cranbrook Academy of Art.