TCA is looking for volunteers to help in the following areas:
Strategic Arts Engagement
We believe art, no matter the medium, should never be seen as merely a means for satisfying decorative desires or entertaining crowds. The role of art in activism must be elevated to its capacity to change the hearts and minds of people. TCA works with advocates and advocacy organizations to integrate more creative and artistic methods of strategic engagement.These partnerships advance the outcomes of ongoing advocacy efforts by fostering relationships between directly impacted artists and advocates, as well as by designing projects that convert quantitative and qualitative data into living, emotional testimonies that encourage a call to action. The Strategic Arts Engagement Department is responsible for conceptualizing and creating art pieces that represent lived struggles and encourage calls to action
Preferred experience
Communications and Public Outreach
At TCA, we believe access to information and resources is important to shifting culture. TCA is committed to providing a consistent stream of information that serves to shift the harmful narratives that persist in the current culture. The Communications department is responsible for sharing TCA’s work and ensuring its message is delivered by curating and distributing relevant content via the organization’s social media accounts, email blasts and websites.
Preferred experience
Research and Evaluations
The Confined Arts Research Team is dedicated to centering the experiences of people impacted by mass incarceration in academic discourse. Situated at the Center for Justice and the Center for Institutional and Social Change at Columbia University, TCA’s Research Team draws on an interdisciplinary network of researchers and students, while also keeping close ties to formerly and currently incarcerated scholars, artists and community members. TCA aims not only to generate knowledge, but to create change by including the voices and perspectives of people who have suffered from an unjust “justice” system. TCA Research Assistants will support ongoing research primarily relating to trauma and dehumanization. We welcome candidates who are serious about spearheading an individual research project, are passionate about issues relating to social justice, and are driven to reimagine how to conduct and disseminate research in an impactful, community-centered way.
Previous research experience is not required for this role. However, all Research Assistants must commit to a minimum of 5 hours of work each week and a 2 semester commitment.
Preferred experience
Coalition Building and Partnership Building
TCA co-created and assists in running the Arts, Justice and Safety Coalition. Learn more about the coalition here. The Coalition Building and Partnership Building department works to help run The Coalition, facilitate collaborations between TCA and external partners, build partnerships with other criminal justice reform organizations and strengthen connections to community, city, state, and national leaders. We work within communities and build relationships to mobilize communities to support justice work, develop advocacy strategies and oversee the implementation of these strategies. TCA is currently seeking a Communications/Administrative Assistant within this department. We are currently seeking a Communications/Administrative Assistant to manage multiple streams of information between TCA and coalition members and communicate in a timely and professional manner with both current and potential members.
Preferred experience
Development
TCA’s Development team leads in fundraising via grants and creative fundraisers to provide monetary support that is necessary to implement TCA’s many projects. We are currently looking for someone with a passion for TCA’s mission to assist our Development Director by providing administrative, budgeting, and fundraising support. Ability to commit to 5 hours a week, for 1-2 semesters (2 preferred).
Preferred experience
Human Resources
TCA's Human Resources department is primarily responsible for (1) expanding the TCA team, and (2) ensuring TCA's current team is able to thrive. In addition to planning internal events, the HR department holds monthly meetings with each member of TCA to check in to review any needs and/or concerns. Recruitment is ongoing, with a larger push (including events, communications posts, etc.) at the beginning of each semester.
Preferred experience
Correspondence Program
TCA's Correspondence Program maintains and sustains correspondence with TCA's incarcerated network of artists, ensuring they have the opportunity to participate in ongoing projects (e.g. Open Call For Clemency online exhibition). Other responsibilities include staying on top of TCA's JPay account, maintaining and updating our list of contacts and coming up with outreach strategies. People who have experience with inside/outside communications are best suited for this position.
Preferred qualities
All positions listed on this page are volunteer, remote, and will begin as soon as possible. High School and College Students must be able to commit to working with TCA for at least 2 consecutive semesters. We are filling positions on a rolling basis. If you cannot fulfill any of these needs but are still interested in working with TCA, we are happy to review your application and have a conversation about how you can get involved.
Strategic Arts Engagement
We believe art, no matter the medium, should never be seen as merely a means for satisfying decorative desires or entertaining crowds. The role of art in activism must be elevated to its capacity to change the hearts and minds of people. TCA works with advocates and advocacy organizations to integrate more creative and artistic methods of strategic engagement.These partnerships advance the outcomes of ongoing advocacy efforts by fostering relationships between directly impacted artists and advocates, as well as by designing projects that convert quantitative and qualitative data into living, emotional testimonies that encourage a call to action. The Strategic Arts Engagement Department is responsible for conceptualizing and creating art pieces that represent lived struggles and encourage calls to action
Preferred experience
- Visual Art and Art History education or experience
- Experience embedding arts into advocacy
- Experience facilitating or creating community artwork and/or creative placemaking projects
- A foundational understanding of the advocacy and activism landscape of New York City
- Capacity to participate in projects as both a facilitator and as an artist
- Comfort leading projects across artistic disciplines
Communications and Public Outreach
At TCA, we believe access to information and resources is important to shifting culture. TCA is committed to providing a consistent stream of information that serves to shift the harmful narratives that persist in the current culture. The Communications department is responsible for sharing TCA’s work and ensuring its message is delivered by curating and distributing relevant content via the organization’s social media accounts, email blasts and websites.
Preferred experience
- Social media curation
- Experience creating graphics and/or informational flyers - experience with photoshop, Premiere Pro, and/or Canva is a plus
- Communications experience within a non-profit
- Copywriting experience
- Experience using Weebly and Wix
- Proficiency with Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and Mail Services
Research and Evaluations
The Confined Arts Research Team is dedicated to centering the experiences of people impacted by mass incarceration in academic discourse. Situated at the Center for Justice and the Center for Institutional and Social Change at Columbia University, TCA’s Research Team draws on an interdisciplinary network of researchers and students, while also keeping close ties to formerly and currently incarcerated scholars, artists and community members. TCA aims not only to generate knowledge, but to create change by including the voices and perspectives of people who have suffered from an unjust “justice” system. TCA Research Assistants will support ongoing research primarily relating to trauma and dehumanization. We welcome candidates who are serious about spearheading an individual research project, are passionate about issues relating to social justice, and are driven to reimagine how to conduct and disseminate research in an impactful, community-centered way.
Previous research experience is not required for this role. However, all Research Assistants must commit to a minimum of 5 hours of work each week and a 2 semester commitment.
Preferred experience
- Experience developing research questions, formulating hypotheses, and designing study methods
- Experience researching social justice topics
- Willing to learn new methods and analysis software
- Social science students preferred (Psychology, Sociology, History, Human Rights, Economics, CSER, Anthropology, Social Work or Law)
Coalition Building and Partnership Building
TCA co-created and assists in running the Arts, Justice and Safety Coalition. Learn more about the coalition here. The Coalition Building and Partnership Building department works to help run The Coalition, facilitate collaborations between TCA and external partners, build partnerships with other criminal justice reform organizations and strengthen connections to community, city, state, and national leaders. We work within communities and build relationships to mobilize communities to support justice work, develop advocacy strategies and oversee the implementation of these strategies. TCA is currently seeking a Communications/Administrative Assistant within this department. We are currently seeking a Communications/Administrative Assistant to manage multiple streams of information between TCA and coalition members and communicate in a timely and professional manner with both current and potential members.
Preferred experience
- Proficient in Google Suite
- Experience creating graphics and/or informational flyers - experience with photoshop, Premiere Pro, and/or Canva is a plus
- Proficiency with Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and Mail Services
- Ability to efficiently manage multiple streams of communication
Development
TCA’s Development team leads in fundraising via grants and creative fundraisers to provide monetary support that is necessary to implement TCA’s many projects. We are currently looking for someone with a passion for TCA’s mission to assist our Development Director by providing administrative, budgeting, and fundraising support. Ability to commit to 5 hours a week, for 1-2 semesters (2 preferred).
Preferred experience
- Budget creation and management
- Non-profit experience
- Fundraising experience
- Proficiency in Excel and/or Google Sheets
- Grant writing experience
- Familiarity with grants related to arts advocacy & criminal legal reform preferred
- Ability to work effectively within deadlines
Human Resources
TCA's Human Resources department is primarily responsible for (1) expanding the TCA team, and (2) ensuring TCA's current team is able to thrive. In addition to planning internal events, the HR department holds monthly meetings with each member of TCA to check in to review any needs and/or concerns. Recruitment is ongoing, with a larger push (including events, communications posts, etc.) at the beginning of each semester.
Preferred experience
- Experience organizing events
- Experience leading teams
- Proficiency with Google Drive
- Ability to keep track of many moving pieces
Correspondence Program
TCA's Correspondence Program maintains and sustains correspondence with TCA's incarcerated network of artists, ensuring they have the opportunity to participate in ongoing projects (e.g. Open Call For Clemency online exhibition). Other responsibilities include staying on top of TCA's JPay account, maintaining and updating our list of contacts and coming up with outreach strategies. People who have experience with inside/outside communications are best suited for this position.
Preferred qualities
- Experience drafting emails
- Experience with JPay & inside/outside communications
- Interest in fostering interpersonal connections
- Interest in art and/or curation
All positions listed on this page are volunteer, remote, and will begin as soon as possible. High School and College Students must be able to commit to working with TCA for at least 2 consecutive semesters. We are filling positions on a rolling basis. If you cannot fulfill any of these needs but are still interested in working with TCA, we are happy to review your application and have a conversation about how you can get involved.
