Teaching Artist

Working Schedule

• Teaching Artists may or may not work full-time as educators. They already work as professional artists, but may supplement their income through freelance teaching. Hours may be in the day, evening, or weekends, depending on the courses and settings. 

Typical Duties

• Work with leaders and managers of schools, museums, studios, or other community institutions to discuss and plan teaching opportunities  
• Develop lesson plans and curricula relevant to diverse classrooms and settings
• Train a wide range of student types, from K-12 and post-secondary students to prison inmates, medical patients, museum visitors, tourists, or executives
• Stay flexible and meet students at their current level of knowledge and experience
• Assign projects and review instructions with students
• Teach proper use of applicable tools and materials for specific projects
• Those teaching visual arts must share knowledge of lines, 2-D shapes, textures, 3-D forms (i.e., the volume of height, width, and depth), space (perspective), color wheels, and value (i.e., lightness or darkness tones)
• Those teaching music must know basic elements such as sound, rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, structure, expression, and of course, must train students on specific instruments such as percussion, string, brass, keyboards, or wind instruments
• Guide students along their creative journeys as they explore their own styles
• Teach not only skills related to art but also self-confidence, communication, and collaboration
• Organize short workshops, residencies, or topical teaching series
• Set up collaborative projects that allow groups to work together

Additional Responsibilities

• Ensure all needed materials and equipment are available 
• Discuss budget requirements with hosting organizations 
• Plan for frequent travel, to include out-of-town stays
• Budget for trips away from home and verify which expenses are covered 
• Stay on top of new developments and trends
• Help promote and market your events
• Potentially work with nonprofit organizations
• Demonstrate the safe use of hazardous electrical equipment or toxic supplies, such as glue, paint thinner, scissors, etc. 

Soft Skills

• Desire and aptitude to help others succeed
• Empathy and patience
• Enthusiasm 
• Informed social and cultural awareness 
• Keen organizational skills
• Resilience and composure 
• Resourcefulness and leadership
• Skills for coordinating and instructing activities
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Strong communication skills 
• The ability to assess and guide student behavior
• Time management

Technical Skills

• Familiarity with tools and supplies relevant to the level being taught
• Art and craft supplies may include: various weights and types of paper, canvas, crayons, pastels, charcoal, markers, graphite drawing pencils, sharpeners, colored pencils, ink pens, paintbrushes, trays, thinners, acrylic paint, oil paint, watercolors, tempera, sponges, glue, glue sticks, paste, rubber cement, pom poms, beads, glitter, string, yarn, felt, scissors, rulers, erasers, tape, felt, gloves, and hand cleaners
• Music supplies will include specific instruments, microphones, speakers or amplifiers, recording devices, instrument cleaning supplies, and items unique to a particular instrument (picks, bows, reeds, drumsticks, etc.)
• General familiarity with computers (PC or Apple)
• Knowledge of visual presentation equipment (such as video magnifiers, televisions, etc.) 

• Art studios
• Community colleges
• Cruise ships
• K-12 schools
• Medical facilities
• Museums
• Prisons and jails
• Tourist attractions
• Universities

Perhaps the largest “sacrifice” that Teaching Artists must make is that their career path isn’t as stable and predictable as others. However, for many, if not most, that’s exactly what draws them! They want freedom and flexibility instead of a traditional 8-to-5 job, in part because they’re already working as professional artists. 
 
Teaching Artists are still expected to be devoted educators, but teaching is only part of what they do for a living. The main thing they do is to perform their art. Without mastering their art, they can’t exactly teach it to others. Still, during times of economic downturn, Teaching Artists might turn more to the teaching part of their lives, looking for extra income. If that downturn affects their teaching jobs, too, it can make for hard times. 
 
Many Teaching Artists do not hold traditional teaching licenses or credentials, so finding traditional work can be more of a challenge if the need ever arises. However, between their artist jobs and their teaching gigs, they’re usually more than able to make ends meet!

The concept of the Teaching Artist has evolved over the years. The Teaching Artists Guild (TAG) and other like-minded organizations have strived to improve the visibility of the field while offering training and advocacy resources at local, state, and national levels. TAG connects artists through regional networks, online and in-person events, social media, storytelling, and fundraising. It also offers a job board plus an interactive map for organizations and partners (like schools and community centers) to find artists they might like to host. Around the nation, the arts have been thriving, making this a thrilling time to discover the vibrant world of the Teaching Artist industry!

Teaching Artists were almost undoubtedly passionate about the arts at an early age, eventually becoming drawn to one area in particular. Visual artists and musicians may have found solace in their art and the way it empowered them to express their creative sides. Over time they mastered their chosen art form through education and training or simply through self-discovery and countless hours of practice. 
 
Whatever method they chose to learn their art, along the way, they also recognized their desire to share with others. It’s possible they were inherently adept at teaching. Perhaps they were an older sibling, or were just good at a specific subject in school, prompting their friends to ask for help. In any case, they discovered their love of teaching matched their enthusiasm for their art—and thus, they combined their two interests to become Teaching Artists!