Our Artist in Residence role is designed to offer an enriching and supportive experience for anyone looking to develop their Art practice in an educational context. It is a particularly excellent opportunity for anyone considering future career pathways in Arts education or working more broadly with young people.

Artist in Residence for November 2025 start

Salary - £15,000 per annum plus accommodation, bills and all meals during term time

Our Artist in Residence role is designed to offer an enriching and supportive experience for anyone looking to develop their Art practice in an educational context.

It is a particularly excellent opportunity for anyone considering future career pathways in Arts education or working more broadly with young people.

The role includes year-round accommodation in the centre of York, and all meals in term-time, along with a generous stipend.

Thank you for taking the time to consider applying for this role at Bootham. Bootham is an extraordinary place – different from many independent schools in its relaxed, liberal ethos, which nonetheless sees staff and students working purposefully with the highest academic ambitions.

The Quaker tradition underpins all we do, with simplicity, truth, equality, peace and sustainability as our core values.

Students are urged to ‘let their lives speak’ – to take what they learn and give back to the community through our Social Action programme.

Joining Bootham will see you become part of an exceptional team of staff, all of whom are committed to the wellbeing of every student, supporting and challenging them to be the best they can be in their academic studies and in all aspects of life.

Our resident graduate programme offers an exciting opportunity for you to find out about life in a boarding community and to gain experience in the classroom and to develop your Art practice within an educational setting.

You will be able to develop your skills in Art and lead other activities with pupils that reflect your individual interests and ambitions.

We are seeking a new resident graduate for November 2025. The role includes year-round accommodation in the centre of York, and all meals in term-time, along with a generous stipend.

Art at Bootham School

The Art Department at Bootham School is a collegiate, creative workplace with a team of six practising artists providing Art education to young people aged 11 - 18. 

Our experienced staff comprises teachers, technicians and an Artist in Residence whose job is to provide a bridge to enable our students to visualise and understand the transition from a school-based Art education to undergraduate study and potential future pathways in Art and Design.

The Art Department provides the Artist in Residence with a personal studio space and access to the extensive facilities enjoyed by students at the school.

The school is situated in the heart of the historic city of York and is administered by the Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers. 

Quaker attitudes are centred on core values of equality, peace, simplicity, truth, and sustainability.

These attitudes are not abstract beliefs but are expressed through actions and efforts to create a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.

In the context of Art education, this means encouraging young people to see their creative practice as a lived expression of personal ideas and experiences.

Every individual is seen as having something meaningful and significant to say through the work that they make. As part of a rich and varied curriculum, our students explore the role that Art can play in confronting injustice, promoting understanding and agitating for progressive change in various forms.

It is a fundamental belief of the Art Department that challenging, contemporary practice has a vital role to play in the education of young people alongside the teaching of more traditional, historical contexts.

A key feature of the Bootham School that sets it apart from other, independent settings is the way that students and staff are encouraged to address each other on first name terms.

This is indicative of an overall attitude of mutual respect and equality between all members of the school community.

For artists, this forms part of a working environment where everyone is respected and valued for their individual skills, ideas and opinions.

The creative potential of every individual is nurtured and celebrated, both staff and students alike.

As a part boarding school, Bootham is home to a large number of young people from a wide range of domestic and international backgrounds.

Boarders make up around 17% of the overall student body at the school and are at the heart of the community.

Every member of the Art Department staff has lived and worked in the boarding houses at one point or another during their time at the school.

Living alongside some of our students and helping to care for them beyond the confines of the school day provides staff with a privileged insight into this extraordinary group of young people.

Those who work in boarding learn invaluable skills relating to the care and support of young people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

For any graduate, especially those from an Arts background, this is an opportunity to put key interpersonal skills and abilities, including empathy, compassion and sensitivity, to invaluable use in a pivotal pastoral role.

Overall, the role of Artist in Residence is designed to offer an enriching and supportive experience for anyone looking to develop their Art practice in an educational context.

It is a particularly excellent opportunity for anyone considering future career pathways in Arts education or working more broadly with young people.

Boarding at Bootham School - Supporting and Living in a Boarding House: A Home from Home

At Bootham, we strive to create a warm, welcoming environment that feels like a home for every student.

As a Residential Graduate, you will play a key role in supporting the boarding houses and helping to nurture this unique atmosphere of friendship, care, and belonging.

Each of our two boarding houses— Fox and Rowntree—is a place where students can relax, recharge, and feel comfortable in their home away from home.

Your presence will help ensure that all boarders are safe, supported, and have a space where they can truly be themselves.

You will live in the boarding house alongside the students, but in separate accommodation to maintain a professional boundary, ensuring you can provide support when needed while also having the space to unwind.

As a Res Grad, you’ll be a part of a close-knit team that works together to provide a warm, inclusive atmosphere.

Whether it’s offering a listening ear, providing pastoral care, or engaging with students in activities, you will be there to help every boarder feel at ease and supported.

Your role will involve working closely with the Heads of House and Assistant Heads of House, assisting with the day-to-day running of the house.

You will organise and lead weekend activities that support the boarders personal development.

While the school day offers opportunities for you to develop your skills in your area of expertise, the evenings and weekends will see you actively contributing to the wider boarding community, ensuring that every day is filled with meaningful interactions and a sense of community.

Bootham's boarding houses are designed to be more than just a place to stay—they are places where friendships are formed, experiences are shared, and students can grow in a safe, nurturing environment.

We’re looking for someone who shares this vision and is excited to play a part in making Bootham a special place for both students and staff.