2022 Summer Fieldwork Positions

2022 Summer Fieldwork Positions

 Traditional Arts Indiana (TAI) seeks to employ graduate and undergraduate students for a recently funded initiative to identify and document the everyday expressive practices of older adults in the greater Indianapolis region. Students will work approximately 20 to 28 hours per week for twelve weeks, between June 6 through August 15, 2022. These student fieldworkers will conduct research and compile information about specific older communities. In addition, TAI will work with community scholars and arts partners to create and implement creative aging programs and resources based on student fieldwork. TAI will train students to document traditional arts and work with older adults. Successful applicants will have been enrolled at Indiana University during Spring 2020 and/or Fall 2022 semesters. Students should be at least 21 years of age and have a valid driver’s license (needed to use an IU vehicle).

Preferred Qualifications

Students preferred qualifications include familiarity with ethnographic fieldwork methods, experience in arts programming, and knowledge and understanding of specific cultural groups, communities, and/or artforms relevant to fieldwork in the greater Indianapolis area. Relevant foreign language skills appreciated (i.e., Spanish, Hakha Chin, Mandarin, etc…). Fieldworkers must be self-motivated and organized. We anticipate hiring at least ten student fieldworkers this summer.

To Apply

To apply, please provide a resumé and cover letter outlining your arts, community, and/or fieldwork experience. List any relevant coursework taken, and explain your general interest in this project. Also include the names and contact information of two references. Students from specific ethnic and underserved communities in Indianapolis, who are interested in serving their home communities through this project are encouraged to apply. Positions are open until filled, and we will accept applications until March 22nd, 2022.

Send letter, resumé, and references to:

Traditional Art Indiana

Maxwell Hall

750 E Kirkwood Ave; Bloomington, IN 47405

tradarts@indiana.edu

Read more about the initiative here:

Elders who stay socially engaged through everyday arts and cultural practices experience greater satisfaction in their lives. The Everyday Arts Project leverages existing community arts practices in Indianapolis to improve elder wellbeing, by producing creative-aging programs and resources that employ these practices.  

Feelings of isolation, boredom, and helplessness afflict many elders. This project identifies and shares community-based arts practices that help older adults address these concerns. Everyday arts (singing, dancing, quilting, storytelling, woodworking, etc.) offer proven supports to address the difficulties of aging by forging social interactions, instilling feelings of mastery, facilitating life review, and connecting elders to younger generations). The project has four phases:

1. Student fieldworkers will interview and photograph elders engaged in everyday arts activities from diverse Indianapolis communities.

2. Based on fieldwork, TAI will create arts and aging guides for elders in Indianapolis which will include inspiring profiles and engaging activities.

3. TAI will partner with area organizations to host creative aging programs for older adults.

4. Finally, TAI will host Aging Summits (training sessions to nurture everyday creative practices).

Memory, Art, and Aging Guide

With support from the IU Center for Rural Engagement, Traditional Arts Indiana piloted a project that similarly identified vernacular forms of creative aging, but with a focus on the rural arts and culture of Southern Indiana. Download: Memory, Art, and Aging: A Resource and Activity Guide, 2020 .