Virginia Commission for the Arts

Teaching Artist Roster

Teaching Artist Roster

Teaching Artist Roster

Teaching Artists are professionals committed to the development of their own artistic practice as well as their teaching pedagogy with the desire to share their knowledge through residencies and workshops.

Purpose

To identify and promote professional Virginia Teaching Artists who are committed to enhancing arts education across the commonwealth.

Description

The VCA Teaching Artist Roster serves as a resource for organizations applying for Arts in Practice Grants or seeking high-quality teaching artists. This vetted list encompasses a variety of arts disciplines, with each artist recognized for expertise in their field and ability to develop and implement audience-specific arts curricula. Artists awarded inclusion onto the Roster receive an allocation specifically designated to Arts in Practice Grant requests for the upcoming grant cycle. VCA Teaching Artists book engagements with partnering organizations, who then apply for Arts in Practice Grants. The VCA does not act as a booking agent. Artists are responsible for developing effective marketing strategies and creating promotional materials to facilitate residencies and connect with partnering organizations.

Eligible Applicants

Individual teaching artists as well as nonprofit organizations that provide educational programming and employ teaching artists are eligible to apply.

Applicants must be:

  • a Virginia resident and 18 years of age or older at the time of application
  • a professional artist 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, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. EST, for FY27 grant activities taking place July 1, 2026 – June 15, 2027

Renewals

Current VCA Teaching Artists must submit an application annually to maintain inclusion on the Roster for the following grant cycle. Applicants are designated to SHORT or LONG form applications based on a three-year cycle and the effective utilization or their teaching allocation. VCA Teaching Artists must provide updates for their VCA webpage on an annual basis, if applicable.

NOTE: A VCA Teaching Artist may be removed at the discretion of Commission staff, due to unresponsiveness or inability to utilize their allocation over a two-year grant cycle.

Allocations

  • New applicants will generally be recommended for an allocation between $2,000 and $2,500 during their first year on the Teaching Artist Roster.
  • Subject to available funding, allocations for current Teaching Artists may increase or decrease based on their prior utilization of funds from the previous grant cycle.

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
  • Instructional Excellence
  • Effective Management and Marketing Strategies
  • Evidence of Residency Interest
  • Unique contribution to the VCA Teaching Artist Roster

Required Attachments

Applicants must generate and upload the following documents:

  • Three documents reflecting Artistic Excellence
  • One document reflecting Instructional Excellence
  • Teaching artist(s) resume
  • Residency/workshop lesson plan
  • Two letters of reference
  • Marketing /promotional sample
  • Instructional history (2024 – 2026)

Application/Review Process for Inclusion onto the Teaching Artist Roster

  1. Applicants complete and submit the online application to the Commission by the deadline.
  2. 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.
  3. Commission staff forwards applications to members of the statewide, multi-disciplinary Advisory Panel to review prior to the Advisory Panel Screening Session.
  4. The Advisory Panel meets with two members of the Commission staff. Commissioners may attend Advisory Panel Screening Sessions as silent observers. The Advisory Panel makes its recommendations after group discussion.
  5. The Commission Board then reviews the recommendations of the Advisory Panel and staff and takes final action on the applications.
  6. Applicants are notified of Commission action by email following vote at the next Commission Board meeting following the Advisory Panel Screening Session.
  7. The Commission reserves funding for each VCA Teaching Artist to book residencies with potential applicants for the FY27 grant cycle. VCA Teaching Artists draft contracts with applicants, who then apply for Arts in Practice Grants from May 1, 2026, to April 1, 2027.
  8. If a Teaching Artist has used all of their original touring allocation prior to April 1, 2027, they may reach out to Commission staff to inquire about reserved waitlist funds. If funding is available, they may book additional residencies and encourage organizations to apply to the Commission’s “waitlist” on a first-come, first-served basis. It is the responsibility of the VCA Teaching Artist to explain that there is no guarantee of funding in this situation. Waitlist applications are due two weeks before the intended performance date.

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.

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