Become a Teaching Artist

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) has an Arts in Education (AIE) division that provides funding support for arts based educational programs throughout the Commonwealth. The purpose of the AIE division is to champion the arts as a tool for both personal and community development for all Pennsylvanians by supporting quality programs in schools and community settings. Erie Arts & Culture officially serves as the regional AIE partner for the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren, and Lawrence.

As a regional partner, Erie Arts & Culture manages and works to grow a diverse roster of qualified teaching artists; representing a variety of arts disciplines. The artists that comprise our roster are eligible to participate in PCA funded AIE residencies. Artists become rostered through a five-step process that includes:

Step One: Interested artists must complete and submit a teaching artist application, including a 5-day mock residency plan.

Step Two: Erie Arts & Culture reviews the application material.

Step Three: Applicants who meet the qualification criteria are then interviewed by an independent panel.

Step Four: If recommended, applicants will complete a 5-week training where they will refine their skills and abilities to lead a residency in both a school and community-based setting. 

Step Five: Those who are successful in their demonstrations are recommended to the PCA for final review and approval.

We are committed to providing in-depth training that ensures that all participants have the best possible arts learning experience. Once rostered, Erie Arts & Culture provides teaching artists with access to professional development designed to equip teaching artists with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement successful residencies.

The deadline to apply annually is the end of May.  Panel interviews occur in June and new teaching artist orientation and training is held in July and August.

Eligibility

• Individual artists, artists’ ensembles, or companies may apply.
• Artists, artists’ ensembles or companies that intend to work in multiple disciplines must demonstrate their qualifications and be approved to work in each discipline.
• Preference is given to Pennsylvania residents, although outstanding artists from other states may apply.
• You must be 18 years of age or older

Criteria

Applicants are selected for the program based on:

• Artistic excellence as demonstrated by samples of the artist’s work, training and experience, resume, and letters of recommendation.
• Good communication skills as evidenced by the application, work samples, recommendations and subsequent interview, and teaching observation.
• Ability to develop and implement a sequential residency plan with education or community partners as evidenced by the application, interviews, and a classroom observation of an experiential arts activity.
• Ability, if applicable, to present culturally specific arts authentically as evidenced by work samples and subsequent observations.
• Experience, interest, and the ability to work with students, including special needs populations, as evidenced by credentials in education, application, letters of recommendation, and observations.

Compensation

• Teaching artists are paid a minimum of $250 a day for school based and $200 a day for community-based residencies. Artists may negotiate a higher fee with the host site. Ensemble fees are set accordingly.
• (AIE Partner) limits its match to no more than $250 a day for school based and $200 a day for community-based residencies. (AIE Partner) does not guarantee a fifty-fifty match. This is dependent upon the quality of the residency, the length of it and the availability of funds.
• Mileage will be reimbursed only for residency distances farther than 50 miles one way. 

Teaching Artist applications are submitted online through Submittable. The application opens every year on April 1st, and closes on May 31st. If you are considering applying to become a teaching artist, or have questions about the process, please email [email protected].