Job Summary

The Fine Arts Sessional Lecturer at the University of Lethbridge (uLethbridge) is a pivotal teaching role within the Faculty of Fine Arts. Based at the Calgary campus, this position is designed for “Creative Practitioners” who can inspire the next generation of artists, musicians, and performers. This role requires the “wit” to translate professional artistic practice into a rigorous academic curriculum and the “grit” to mentor diverse undergraduate students in a fast-paced, studio- or classroom-based environment.

Job Details

Employer: University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Fine Arts.
Location: Calgary, AB (Calgary Campus).
Position Type: Sessional (Contract-based).
Disciplines: Art, Music, Drama, New Media, and Multidisciplinary Fine Arts.

Key Responsibilities: The Creative Pedagogue

As a Sessional Lecturer, you are the bridge between the professional arts world and the academic growth of your students.

Undergraduate Instruction: Deliver high-quality lectures, studio sessions, or rehearsals across various levels of the Fine Arts curriculum.
Curriculum Design: Develop course outlines, assignments, and rubrics that align with the University’s learning outcomes while reflecting current trends in the creative industries.
Student Mentorship: Provide constructive feedback and artistic critique to help students refine their technical skills and conceptual depth.
Studio/Lab Management: Oversee the safe and effective use of specialized facilities, such as digital media labs, music studios, or black box theaters, depending on your discipline.
Academic Administration: Manage grading, office hours, and student inquiries, ensuring a supportive and organized learning environment.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

The “Master Practitioner”: Typically requires a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Music (MMus), or equivalent terminal degree in your specific field.
Instructional Wit: Demonstrated experience in post-secondary teaching with a portfolio that shows excellence in both practice and pedagogy.
Professional Grit: An active professional practice (exhibitions, performances, publications, or industry credits) that informs your teaching.
Communication Mastery: Exceptional interpersonal skills to engage students and collaborate with faculty colleagues.

Technical Insights: The Multi-Disciplinary Framework

The Faculty of Fine Arts at uLethbridge is known for its “Liberal Education” focus, encouraging students to look beyond their specific silo.

Interdisciplinary Synthesis: You may be asked to teach courses that blend traditional techniques with new media or digital tools, reflecting the “Hybridized” nature of modern creative practice.
Critique Culture: A core component of this role is leading “Critique” sessions—a pedagogical method where students present work for collective analysis and rigorous feedback.
Work-Integrated Learning: Many courses at the Calgary campus emphasize the “Business of the Arts,” preparing students for the entrepreneurial realities of a career in the creative sector.

Diversity and Representation at the University of Lethbridge

The University of Lethbridge is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and recognizes the deep connection between the arts and social justice.

Indigenous Engagement: The University is located on Blackfoot Territory (Treaty 7). The Faculty of Fine Arts emphasizes “Iniskim” (the Blackfoot name for the university), integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and creative expressions into the broader curriculum.
The “Calgary Context”: The Calgary campus serves a highly diverse, often non-traditional student population, including working professionals and adult learners. Your teaching must be adaptive and inclusive of these varied backgrounds.
The Confidence Gap: uLethbridge encourages artists from equity-deserving groups to apply. The institution recognizes that a diversity of voices in the Faculty of Fine Arts is essential for a truly “inspired” creative practice.

Job Description

Do you believe that art is not just a subject, but a way of seeing the world? The University of Lethbridge is seeking Fine Arts Sessional Lecturers to join our Calgary campus. We aren’t just looking for “teachers”; we are looking for active creators who have the “grit” to maintain a professional practice while having the “wit” to mentor the next generation of Canadian talent. If you are ready to “Inspire Creative Practice” in a leading liberal education environment, you belong at uLethbridge.

In this role, you are a “Cultural Catalyst.” You understand that a single lecture or critique can spark a student’s entire career. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Fine Arts Education,” ensuring that our graduates are technically proficient and conceptually bold. We look for “Integrity-first” lecturers who are collaborative, innovative, and deeply committed to the transformative power of the arts.

Joining the University of Lethbridge means joining an institution known for its small class sizes and student-centered approach. We offer a vibrant, professional environment where your artistic expertise will directly shape the creative landscape of Calgary and beyond. If you are a practitioner with a commitment to “Creative Innovation and Educational Excellence,” we invite you to submit your application package and start something today.

University of Lethbridge: The Hub for Working Professionals

The University of Lethbridge (uLethbridge) Calgary campus operates with a culture specifically designed for flexibility, career advancement, and “liberal education in practice.” Unlike the traditional, sprawling main campus in Lethbridge, the Calgary site is a high-energy, urban satellite tailored to the needs of working professionals and adult learners. Its mission is to provide an accessible bridge to higher credentials, fostering an environment where students can “earn while they learn.” The culture is characterized by practicality and networking, with a focus on business and health leadership that directly feeds into Calgary’s downtown corporate and healthcare sectors.

Located in the heart of the city’s Downtown East Village, the campus is integrated into a vibrant urban revitalization zone:

The Bow Valley College Building: The campus is strategically situated at 345 6th Avenue SE (6th Floor, South Campus). This central location places students just steps away from the City Hall C-Train station, the Central Library, and the National Music Centre.
Evening and Weekend Focus: To accommodate full-time careers, the vast majority of classes are held during non-traditional hours. This creates a unique “professional cohort” feel where classmates are often peers in the local industry.
Specialized Academic Pillars:
- Dhillon School of Business: Known for its AACSB accreditation, it offers programs in Accounting (including CPA bridging), Finance, and Marketing. Starting in late 2025, it is transitioning its core degree to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).
- Health Services Management: A collaborative effort between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Dhillon School of Business, focusing on nursing leadership and healthcare administration.
Arts Commons Integration: For students taking fine arts or new media courses, uLethbridge utilizes space at the Arts Commons (205 8th Ave SE), placing them directly within Calgary’s premier performing arts center.

Studying at the uLethbridge Calgary campus means being part of a “commuter” culture that values time-efficiency and direct ROI. It’s a place where the theoretical foundation of a liberal education meets the immediate demands of the Calgary job market, allowing students to apply Saturday’s lessons to Monday’s work tasks.

To apply for this job please visit www.ulethbridge.ca.