Purpose
To identify and promote highly-qualified and experienced Teaching Artists with expertise in schools and other community-based settings. The Teaching Artist Roster is an online resource for VCA Education Impact and Arts in Practice Grants, as well as any other school or community group seeking professional teaching artists.
Description
Teaching Artists are 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. They are knowledgeable in the techniques and content of their disciplines and are adept at developing and implementing audience-specific arts curriculum. Although the VCA promotes the Teaching Artist Roster to applicants and others, the Commission does not guarantee contract work to our Teaching Artists.
Eligible Applicants
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 artist 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
Individual Teaching Artists as well as not-for-profit organizations that provide educational programming and employ Teaching Artists are eligible to apply.
NOTE
Full-time students are ineligible to apply for the Teaching Artist Roster.
Application Deadlines (No Exceptions)
Applications and support materials are accepted during two cycle deadlines: April 1 and October 2, and are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on each deadline date.
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 a 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.
Collaboration and Program Management—The extent to which the applicant can demonstrate successful collaboration and project management.
Professionalism—The extent to which the applicant represents the professional standards of the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Required Attachments
- Teaching Artist(s) Resumes
- Residency/Workshop Lesson Plan
- Three Documents Reflecting Artistic Excellence
- One Document Reflecting Instructional Excellence
- Two Letters of Reference
Review Process
Applications including support materials will be reviewed by the Commission’s Teaching Artist Roster Advisory Panel comprised of artists and educators representative of different disciplines. Panel and staff recommendations are then reviewed by the Commission board which makes the final decisions on those teaching artists included in the roster. Advisory Panel Feedback is available upon request.
All teaching artists shall agree to have a national background check* to ensure their capacity to work with school-aged students or the elderly or disabled.
NOTE
Questions regarding background checks may be directed to the Commission’s staff.