Teaching Artist Roster Grant

The Teaching Artist Roster connects professional artists and arts educators with schools and community organizations, fostering the integration of the arts into educational settings. Through mini-grants from the Mississippi Arts Commission, these artists can conduct workshops, presentations, and residencies. The program aims to enhance arts learning opportunities, align with educational standards, and support ongoing arts education, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of Mississippi.

The Teaching Artist Roster is a listing of professional artists and arts educators who are available to work with schools and community organizations in developing strategies for using the arts in a variety of settings. Mini-Grant funds are available from MAC to schools and organizations to support presentations, workshops or residencies by these artists.
Teaching Artists work at a professional level within their artistic discipline but have also made arts education a central component in their work. They have developed their skills as educators along with their artistic skills. Teaching artists can work in a variety of settings, including schools, youth arts programs and community centers, and with professional arts organizations.
Following are MAC’s main goals for members of the Teaching Artist Roster:
Provide arts learning opportunities that align with Arts Learning Standards developed by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE)Make connections between the arts and MDE’s K-12 Academic Content StandardsCollaborate with classroom teachers or arts education committeesWork with both teachers (through professional development) and students (through arts integrated, hands-on lessons)Support efforts to integrate arts learning with other subject areasAssist school staff in continuing arts education programming in the absence of an arts teacher through sharing strategies, techniques, and curricula
Membership in the Teaching Artist Roster provides artists a way to promote themselves to schools and arts organizations around the state. Artists who are approved for the program are part of the listing for three years. Inclusion in the Teaching Artist Roster does not guarantee bookings within Mississippi schools. MAC does not promote individual artists on the Teaching Artist Roster or handle booking arrangements for them.

Eligibility

A professional artist or arts educator. Individuals are considered to be a professional artist or arts educator if theyEarn at least part of their annual income working with educators and others showing how their art form may be used to enhance learning and teachingconsider their artistic work a careerMaintain a high level of artistic qualityMake a significant time investment in their artistic disciplines through practice, performance, and instructionNot a full-time studentMore than 18 years of age