Teaching Apprentice

TEACHING APPRENTICE PROGRAM- SUMMER 2026

Are you a NYC public school graduate and/or current CUNY student or graduate?
Are you interested in the Arts Education field and looking for a PAID Training Opportunity?
You should check out the Teaching Apprentice Program (TAP) at Park Avenue Armory!

TAP is a rigorous apprenticeship that introduces skills such as classroom management, public speaking, group facilitation, and lesson plan development, while exploring the foundations of arts education and applications across visual and performing art forms and learning styles. TAP begins with a five-week seminar and workshop observations; outstanding candidates may progress to mentored “field experience” opportunities at Park Avenue Armory. After the successful completion of the field experience portion of the program, participants are invited to apply to become members of Park Avenue Armory’s teaching assistant team. Participants are paid hourly for all phases of the program.

ABOUT ARTS EDUCATION AT PARK AVENUE ARMORY
Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory is dedicated to supporting unconventional works in the visual and performing arts that need non-traditional spaces for their full realization, enabling artists to create, students to experience, and audiences to consume epic and adventurous presentations that cannot be mounted elsewhere in New York City. The Armory’s Arts Education initiative offers programs at no cost to New York City public school students and includes production-based programming, in which students attend major productions of music, theater, dance, and visual art, and participate in pre- and post-visit workshops with the Armory’s talented corps of teaching artists; the partner school program, in which deeper relationships with public schools are created through attendance at productions, in-school residencies, workshops, and end-of-term events in the Armory’s historic rooms; and the Armory Youth Corps, a paid and closely-mentored internship program for New York City public high school students and graduates from Youth Corps partner schools.

Eligibility
The Teaching Apprentice Program is open to those who meet the following criteria:

• Have graduated from a New York City public high school and/OR are current CUNY students or graduates
• Have a demonstrated interest in the Arts and/or Education or related fields
• Have an interest in the mission of Park Avenue Armory and its Arts Education department
• Ability to speak multiple languages a plus!

Park Avenue Armory is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to building a culturally diverse staff. Applications from all interested candidates are strongly encouraged. Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If this program aligns with you and the work you are passionate about doing, please apply for the position. You might be the right candidate for this role, or for others that we’re adding to our team.

Time Commitment
The anticipated seminar schedule, with sessions taking place at Park Avenue Armory, is as follows (subject to change):

• Tuesday, June 2, 10am-1pm
• Wednesday, June 3, 10am-1pm 
• Thursday, June 4, 10am-1pm
• Tuesday, June 9 10am-1pm
• Wednesday, June 10 10am-1pm
• Thursday, June 11 10am-1pm
• MONDAY, June 15 9am-3pm *optional/additional day to work the Armory’s 2026 Student Summit inspired by clinamen
• Tuesday, June 16 10am-1pm
• Wednesday, June 17 10am-1pm
• Thursday, June 18 10am-1pm
• Tuesday, June 23 10am-1pm
• Wednesday, June 24 10am-1pm 
• Thursday, June 25 10am-1pm
• Tuesday, June 30 10am-1pm
• Wednesday, July 1 10am-1pm
• Thursday, July 2 10am-1pm

Additionally, there will be occasional assigned readings and other homework throughout the summer seminar, not to exceed 3 hours per week. PLEASE NOTE: The field experience would be scheduled according to your availability, beginning July of 2026, and continuing into the 2026-2027 school year.

Pay Rates
Teaching Apprentice Program Seminar (inclusive of homework time) and Field Experience - $18/hour
Starting Pay for Armory Teaching Assistants - $25/hour

Application Process
Click Apply at the bottom of the screen and upload your resume and the attached essay questions as an additional document. Alternatively, you can email the attached application with your resume and essay questions to Monica Weigel McCarthy, Director of Education, at mweigel@armoryonpark.org. You may also drop a paper application off/mail one to: 

Thompson Art Center at Park Avenue Armory
Education Department
643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065

We will accept applications on a rolling basis until April 6, 2026. Qualified applicants will be contacted to set up an interview the weeks of April 6^th or 13th. Candidates will be notified whether they are accepted into the program by April 20th.