February 4, 2025
Richmond, VA | The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) welcomes 17 new artists to its statewide Teaching Artist Roster:
Allisen Learnard | Multi-Disciplinary Dance, Mindful Movement – Richmond
American Shakespeare Center | Shakespeare in Performance Studies – Staunton
Abigail Gómez | Mixed Media, Public Art – Winchester
Brigitte Huson| Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media – Staunton
Dr. Casey Catherine Moore | Poetry, Creative & Academic Writing – Arlington
Christylez Bacon | Beatboxing, Hip-Hop – Washington, D.C.
Da Capo Virginia | Music and Arts for Special Needs – Martinsville
Diedra Johnson | Illustration – Richmond
Everett Mayo | Driftwood Sculpture – Elberon
Jessica Wallach | Photography – Reston
Lesley Larsen | Improv, Consent-Based Theatre, Shakespeare – Waynesboro
Light House Studio | Film – Charlottesville
Rowena Federico Finn | Multidisciplinary, Visual Arts – Virginia Beach
Sound Impact | Classical, Contemporary Chamber Music – Fairfax
Story Tapestries Ensemble | Multidisciplinary – Poolesville, Maryland
Theodora Miller | Visual Arts – Richmond
Zaira Pulido | Dance, Somatic Movement, Community Dance – Richmond
A Commitment to Arts Education
The VCA Teaching Artist Roster features 57 skilled educators available for booking by nonprofit organizations, schools, and local or tribal governments across Virginia. Teaching Artists are selected and awarded inclusion to the Roster based on their artistic expertise and their instructional experience in diverse learning environments.
About Arts in Practice Grants
Arts in Practice Grants support dynamic artist-led residencies and workshops by providing funding to organizations collaborating with artists from the VCA Teaching Artist Roster. This program is designed to reimburse organizations for residency or workshop fees and can support a wide range of learning activities for participants of all ages, as well as professional development opportunities for educators.
Eligible applicants can apply twice per year for funding, requesting up to $2,000, with requests subject to the individual allocation for each Teaching Artist. A 15% cash match is required from the applicant. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and must be submitted at least two weeks before the residency start date.
The current deadline for activities taking place through June 15, 2025, is April 15, 2025. The program will reopen on July 1, 2025, for activities occurring between July 1, 2025, and June 15, 2026.To explore the full list of Teaching Artists, visit the VCA Teaching Artist Roster, here.
About the Artists

Allisen Learnard | Richmond
Allisen Learnard is a multi-disciplinary dance artist with extensive training in ballet, modern, tap, West African dance, and yoga. With nearly two decades of experience, she has led programs with Arts For Learning and Wolf Trap, offering workshops and residencies that combine dance, mindful movement, and arts education to inspire and connect communities.

American Shakespeare Center | Staunton
ASC Education equips students and educators with the tools actors use to bring early modern drama to life, focusing on meter, rhetoric, stage directions, and historical context. Through interactive workshops on character building, verse, staging, and audience engagement, participants gain a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s work through both text and performance.

Abigail Gómez | Winchester
Abigail Gómez is a Latine visual artist and educator with over 12 years of experience teaching art to diverse audiences, from young children to adults, in a variety of disciplines. She is the founder of Arte Libre VA, a nonprofit that offers equitable arts education, public art projects, and leadership opportunities for underrepresented communities.

Brigitte Huson | Staunton
Brigitte Huson is a former elementary art teacher, with a BFA in Art Education and Studio Art. Her programs include drawing, painting, and mixed media workshops, where students explore foundational techniques and artistic expression through exercises like still life, figure drawing, landscape painting, and mixed media creation.

Dr. Casey Catherine Moore | Arlington
Dr. Casey Catherine Moore is a poet, writing coach, and educator with 16 years of experience teaching at the college and secondary levels. She specializes in writing workshops for diverse groups, including teens, adults, and older adults, focusing on creative expression, writing skills, and personal storytelling, with a particular expertise in working with neurodivergent learners.

Christylez Bacon | Washington, D.C.
Christylez Bacon is a Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Washington, DC, blending hip-hop, West African drumming, and Hindustani classical music. He has performed internationally, collaborated with renowned artists like Yo-Yo Ma, and created the “Washington Sound Museum” concert series, showcasing cross-cultural musical collaborations. Christylez leads educational workshops focused on human beatboxing, hip-hop, and cultural unity.

Da Capo Virginia | Martinsville
Da Capo Virginia provides inclusive arts and music education for students with special needs, offering choirs, classes, and concerts that cater to all ability levels. Their Vivo program, integrates music, academics, and social-emotional learning, culminating in a full concert.

Deidra Johnson | Richmond
Deidra Johnson is a self-taught children’s book author, illustrator, and teaching artist who inspires young artists to express themselves through comic storytelling and visual arts. She offers workshops that nurture creativity, emotional well-being, and personal growth. Through her collaborations with partnering organizations, she creates an inclusive space where students build confidence and share their stories through art.

Everett Mayo | Elberon
Everett Mayo, known as “Lord of the Wood,” is a folk artist specializing in driftwood sculptures. He leads workshops that encourage creativity and self-expression, helping participants transform unpainted driftwood into unique masterpieces.

Jessica Wallach | Reston
Jessica Wallach is a photographer and educator with over 15 years of experience teaching all ages. She specializes in both traditional and cell phone photography, offering hands-on, adaptive residencies that cater to beginners and experienced photographers alike. Utilizing both traditional and cell phone photography, her workshops help students build skills in creativity, storytelling, and digital literacy.

Lesley Larsen | Waynesboro
Lesley Larsen is an experienced theatre artist and educator, specializing in consent-based theatre, long-form improv, and Shakespeare. As the Artistic Director of the Historic Wayne Theatre, she offers workshops in improv, acting, voice acting, and movement-based theatre, empowering artists of all ages.

Light House Studio | Charlottesville
Light House Studio (LH) offers youth filmmaking workshops that provide hands-on experience in creating documentaries, animations, and other films, focusing on both technical skills and soft skills like collaboration and communication. Their programs are accessible, offering and financial assistance to ensure diversity and inclusion, culminating in student film screenings and national festival submissions.

Rowena Federico Finn | Virginia Beach
Rowena Federico Finn is a multidisciplinary visual artist and educator based in Virginia Beach, specializing in color theory, drawing, painting, and embroidery. Her work explores Filipina-American identity, decolonialism, and BIPOC feminism, using materials like capiz shells and piña fabric.

Sound Impact | Fairfax
Sound Impact is a collective of musicians using music to foster community engagement and positive social change. They reach over 10,000 youth annually through programs like in-school concerts, workshops, and residencies for incarcerated youth.

Story Tapestries Ensemble | Poolesville, Maryland
Story Tapestries Ensemble, founded in 2010, is a collective of teaching artists who integrate storytelling, performing arts, and interdisciplinary approaches to enhance learning. Their programs focus on social-emotional learning, equity, and academic achievement, custom-designed to engage students and communities.

Theodora Miller | Richmond
Theodora Miller is a self-taught visual artist known for her colorful, layered acrylic paintings, influenced by nature, ancient symbols, and Greek identity. She offers customized workshops and creative retreats, including art exploration, abstract art, and cultural projects, to foster creativity and personal growth.

Zaira Pulido | Richmond
Zaira Pulido is a Somatic Movement Educator and professional dancer with over 20 years of experience working with diverse communities, using dance and movement as tools for personal empowerment and social justice. She offers customized workshops and residencies focused on conscious movement, dance, and somatic experiences to promote self-expression and well-being for participants of all ages and backgrounds.
About the Virginia Commission for the Arts
The Virginia Commission for the Arts – established in 1968 – is the state agency dedicated to investing in the arts of the Commonwealth. Through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Commission invests in arts organizations, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, educators, and artists.
Media Contact
Colleen Dugan Messick, Executive Director
804.225.3132
colleen.messick@vca.virginia.gov