Job Openings

VOLUNTEER

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Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to accommodate teen volunteers. Volunteer opportunities for adults include:

SPECIAL EVENTS

We welcome volunteers to help at community events such as Jamaica Plain Open Studios and other community art showcases and events. Volunteers staff our welcome table, help with set-up and clean-up, and assist with other tasks.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE

Our staff is occasionally looking for help with promotional materials distribution, organization, filing, and other small projects. Availability during the work week is required.

WOODWORKING SHOP ASSISTANCE

Are you a skilled woodworker looking for access to a wood shop?  We welcome skilled woodworkers to volunteer as Teaching Assistants in our woodworking open shop. TAs have access to our shop during the classes where they volunteer. Volunteer TAs must be available for the full open shop class. View our upcoming woodworking open shops here to see if you're available. 

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JOB OPENINGS

The Eliot School staff and board have made explicit commitments to three strategic imperatives: racial equity, artistic excellence, and financial sustainability. All positions support these aims.

More than half of our students are young people of color in Boston’s public schools and community centers. Our staff and board reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. We are actively taking a thought-leadership role to interrogate racial inequity driven by foundational, structural, and historical issues in the fields of craft and art education. As part of this, we co-lead the national Racial Equity in Craft Peer Learning Group. We believe that imagination and art-making can support questioning, engagement, and recognition of one’s power to shape one’s world. As we rebuild from the pandemic, we remain committed to our mission – the mandate to serve all.

Inclusion and Empowerment

The Eliot School is a vibrant, inclusive organization that welcomes people from all backgrounds and experiences. We are dedicated to fostering a safe environment that inspires lifelong learning in craft and creativity for everyone. We are committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourage individuals from marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.

We understand that some candidates may feel hesitant if they don’t meet every qualification listed in the job description. We encourage you to apply if this position sparks your interest and resonates with your dedication as an arts educator. Your unique perspective and enthusiasm could be just what we’re looking for.

PROPOSE A CLASS

If you are looking to become part of our schoolhouse teaching community, you have come to the right spot!

For over 350 years, The Eliot School has celebrated both time-honored craft traditions and bold new ideas. We offer classes to people of all ages and are seeking fresh, engaging classes—whether a one-off workshop or a multi-week course—that reflect how people want to learn, create, and connect today.

We welcome proposals across a wide range of fine and applied arts. We’re especially drawn to hands-on, process-driven classes that foster creativity and connection, and that leave students with new skills and something meaningful made (or fixed) by hand. 

Please review our current class offerings on our website to understand what we already provide. Many popular classes are only offered on weekdays, and we especially welcome proposals that reimagine these for weeknight or weekend audiences. Proposals may work within existing media but should offer a fresh perspective or unique project. 

Please use our Course Proposal Form to submit any class or workshop you would like to teach. Each class or workshop must be submitted separately.

The deadline for submitting a course proposal to be considered for our Winter 2027 Term (Jan-April) is August 12, 2026. Please see "Deadline for Course Proposal Submission" section below for more details.

Should you have any questions prior to or while filling out the form, please contact Lorraine Johnson, Director of Community Education, at .

Deadline for Course Proposal Submission

Eliot School Terms:

• Winter (January-April) 
• Summer (May-August) 
• Fall (September-December)

We plan our schedule one term ahead, but we are happy to receive proposals on a rolling basis and if there is an opening in the current term that fits your course schedule and we believe will be in high demand, we will try to make that happen!

To be considered for our Winter 2027 Term, please submit your proposal by August 12, 2026.

Disciplines & Details

We actively seek proposals for new courses and workshops for learners of all ages, ranging from a one-off workshop to multi-week classes.

Classes we’re excited about!

• Hands-on, project-based – create something tangible by the end of class.
• Short, high-reward workshops – weekend or 1–3 day projects that produce a finished piece.
• Weekend classes for kids & teens – fun, engaging projects in a variety of mediums, including sewing and woodworking with hand tools.
• Mixed media & interdisciplinary experiments – explore new combinations of materials and techniques.
• Functional & usable art – make objects to wear, use, display, or gift.
• Textile & fiber revival – embroidery, weaving, upcycling, visible mending, and upholstery projects.
• Woodworking & maker-focused projects – craft a specific object or learn a technique, including woodturning, woodcarving, boxes, benches, and other tangible projects. 
• Celebrating diverse perspectives & traditions – draw inspiration from Boston’s rich community and immigrant cultural heritage.

About Our Facilities

We have five studio spaces which cater to different mediums and class sizes located at the Eliot Schoolhouse or our Amory Street Annex in Jamaica Plain. The course proposal form outlines the options for you to consider when formulating the specific needs of your class.

Important to note what we do NOT have:

• Storage capacity (especially for 3-dimensional work)
• Ventilation for batik, encaustic, or other arts that generate toxic fumes
• Exhaust hood for powdered dyes or other airborne toxins
• Refrigerator
• Washer/dryer
• 3-D printer, Laser cutter
• Ceramics studio
• Metals studio
• Computer lab
• Darkroom
• Handicapped access, except in our Annex classroom

Off-Site Options

We welcome the opportunity to offer classes in artists' studios and other spaces. However, we have strict insurance requirements. If you would like to explore this option, please contact our Community Education Coordinator.

IDEAS FROM STUDENTS

Suggest a class/workshop you would like us to offer.

ART MODELS

Interested in modeling for a class?

The Eliot School regularly offers classes/workshops that feature live art models. The classroom environment is professional and welcoming, and the students have a range of experience. Our instructors seek models with a variety of body types, backgrounds, and abilities. We require reliability, the ability to hold a pose, and agreement to the Eliot School's policies. If you are interested in modeling for a class or workshop, please complete the application form located here and we will contact you should a vacant spot become available.