Purpose
To identify and promote highly-qualified and experienced Teaching Artists with experience in schools and other community-based settings. The VCA Teaching Artist Roster is an online resource for VCA Education Impact and Arts In Practice Grants, as well as any other school or community groups seeking professional Teaching Artists.
Description
VCA Teaching Artists are dedicated professionals who are committed to the development of their own artistic practice and teaching methodologies. Proficient in the techniques and content of their disciplines, they are adept in developing and implementing audience-specific arts curriculum. Arts in Practice residencies are led by teaching artists listed on the VCA Teaching Artist Roster. The choice to partner with VCA Teaching Artists for Education Impact Grants is optional.
Eligible Applicants
Individual teaching artists as well as nonprofit organizations that provide educational programming and employ teaching artists are eligible to apply.
Teaching Artists must be:
- 18 years of age or older at the time of application
- a resident of Virginia, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and/or the District of Columbia
- professional artists with expertise in one or more disciplines
- skilled in working with children, youth, teachers, adults, seniors, veterans, and/or other populations
- committed to differentiated instruction and effective teaching methods to reach all learners
NOTE
- Full-time students are not eligible to apply for the Teaching Artist Roster.
- Although the VCA promotes the Teaching Artist Roster to applicants and others, the Commission does not guarantee contract work to our Teaching Artists.
Application Deadline
July 15, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. EST.
Criteria for Evaluating Applications
The Virginia Commission for the Arts is interested in innovative, collaborative arts programs and/or services with the following priorities:
Artistic Excellence – Supported evidence of artistic knowledge and skills and demonstrated commitment to providing audiences and communities with an innovative, impactful, and quality artistic experience.
Instructional Excellence – The extent to which the applicant can demonstrate sound educational practices and pedagogy. Executes rich and complex residencies/workshops for all learners while engaging them on variety of levels.
Collaboration and Program Management – Supported evidence of a successful collaboration with a school, organization, or community. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates the ability to implement appropriate methods for assessing student learning and benchmark program goals.
Professionalism – The extent to which the applicant represents the professional standards of the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Required Attachments
Applicants must generate and upload the following documents:
- Teaching artist(s) resume
- Residency/workshop lesson plan
- Three documents reflecting artistic excellence
- One document reflecting instructional excellence
- Two letters of reference
Review Process
- Applicants complete and submit the online application to the Commission by the deadline.
- The Commission staff reviews each application for completeness and eligibility. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be reviewed, will be returned to the applicant with an explanation, and will not be funded.
- Commission staff forwards applications to members of the statewide, multi-disciplinary Advisory Panel to review prior to the Advisory Panel screening session.
- The Advisory Panel meets with two members of the Commission staff. Commissioners attend Advisory Panel screening sessions as silent observers. The Advisory Panel makes its recommendations after group discussion.
- The Commission Board then reviews the recommendations of the Advisory Panel and staff and takes final action on the applications.
- Applicants are notified of Commission action by email following vote at the Commission Board meeting and pending enactment of the fiscal year budget per the General Assembly.
Background Check
If awarded inclusion on the VCA’s Teaching Artist Roster, applicants must agree to a national background check to ensure their capacity to work with school-aged students, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. Questions regarding background checks may be directed to the Commission’s staff.