-Credential recognizes skills and experience of exemplary school-based residency teaching artists
-Inaugural cohort of eight teaching artists awarded credential during pilot program
-2018-19 application cycle now open
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY – Young Audiences Arts for Learning (Young Audiences) today announced the launch of its National Residency Teaching Artist Credential (TAC) program, a new initiative that articulates what effective, high quality teaching artistry looks like in K-12 school-based residencies, and formally endorses exceptional teaching artists who embody excellence in four competency areas: Artistry, Instruction, Preparation & Planning, and Community.
In addition, Young Audiences is pleased to introduce the pilot cohort of TAC recipients, eight outstanding teaching artists who were awarded the credential following a rigorous application and adjudication process. Our 2017-18 TAC recipients are:
- Valerie Branch, Young Audiences of Maryland
- Melli Hoppe, Arts for Learning, The Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences
- Molly Johnson, Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania
- Laura Marchese, Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania
- Ray McNiece, Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, The Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Young Audiences
- Emma Parker, Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, The Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Young Audiences
- Malke Rosenfeld, Arts for Learning, The Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences
- Christopher Sheard, Young Audiences of Louisiana
The TAC program was conceived and piloted between September 2017 and August 2018 by a working group of representatives from six Young Audiences affiliates in partnership with the National Young Audiences organization, and in consultation with an advisory committee of experts from the arts education field. TAC applicants submitted a diverse portfolio of materials for consideration, including an instruction video displaying the candidate’s effectiveness in an authentic learning environment; original residency plans designed and implemented by the applicant; and work samples demonstrating the teaching artist’s mastery of his or her own artform.
“Without highly-skilled teaching artists, Young Audiences could not fulfill its mission to ‘inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts,’” said David A. Dik, National Executive Director of Young Audiences. “The National Residency Teaching Artist Credential represents an effort to professionalize the field of teaching artistry and acknowledge the deep experience and exceptional talent required to implement quality arts learning experiences,” he said.
“The inaugural TAC cohort is comprised of some of the most experienced and committed teaching artists working in the arts education field today,” said Jenny James, Director of Education and Programs at Young Audiences of Louisiana, the New Orleans-based affiliate of Young Audiences. “Through this initiative, we ultimately hope to strengthen our talented network of teaching artists and amplify the availability of effective, high-caliber arts learning opportunities across the nation,” James said.
Teaching artists working within the Young Audiences Arts for Learning Network who have experience implementing school-based residency programs are invited to apply for the next phase of the pilot, the 2018-19 TAC application cycle, which opens today with a deadline of January 15, 2019. Young Audiences expects to open the program to collaborating partners outside of the Young Audiences Network beginning with the 2019-20 application cycle.
For the latest information on the TAC initiative, and to learn more about our credentialed teaching artists, please visit: www.youngaudiences.org/TAC.
About Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Established in 1952, Young Audiences Arts for Learning’s mission is to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts. As the nation’s largest arts-in-education learning network, Young Audiences serves more than 5 million children and youth each year in 8,000 schools and community centers across the country through its diverse network of affiliates. For more information, visit www.youngaudiences.org.
CONTACT
Emily Lattal
Director of Marketing & Communications
Young Audiences Arts for Learning
emily@ya.org
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