Become an AIE Teaching Artist

ECCOTA invites professionally active artists of any artistic discipline to apply for inclusion in a directory of rostered artists who are eligible to provide residencies in school or other settings settings. We can help you to:

• Learn more about the Arts in Education Program

• Understand the criteria the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts has established for this state funded initiative

• Obtain guidance in the application process

• Acquire improved techniques in marketing your artistic excellence

• Become a directory artist and earn income by providing a 10-20 day arts residencies

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; artists from other states may apply.

Criteria

• Artist excellence as demonstrated by samples of your work (not the work of your students).

• Good communication skills as evidenced by the application, recommendations, interviews, and teaching observation.

• Ability to develop and implement a sequential residency plans with education or community partners as evidenced by the application, interviews, and classroom observation of an experiential arts activity.

• Evidence of continued professional development (keeping current with one’s discipline) as shown in your resume.

• Ability, if applicable, to present culturally specific arts authentically as evidenced by work samples and subsequent observations.

• Additional consideration will be given to artists who demonstrate the ability to work with special needs populations, as evidenced by letters of recommendation, education and observations.

Compensation

• Typically artists are paid $250 per day for residencies. Higher fees may be negotiated with host sites.

• The host site will reimburse mileage for artists who travel more than 50 miles one-way.

• The host site is responsible for the cost of all materials used in the residencies.

Ensembles and Companies

• The application information must be submitted for all artists who will be working in residencies in schools and community organizations.

• Only those members of the ensemble or company who have been approved may work in a PCA Arts in Education residency.

Observation, Training, and Planning

Qualifying artists will be observed in an educational setting prior to being recommend to the AIE directory. These Observations may occur during existing residencies, classes or workshops arranged by the artist or ECCOTA. Qualifying artists who are recommended to the PCA will be invited to professional development workshops that address guidelines of the AIE program.

Next Steps

1. Submit to Elk County Council on the Arts: Application, Resume, Current Work Samples. The application can be downloaded here: AIE Application

2. Contact Elk County Council on the Arts to: Set up an interview and observation with the Arts in Education partner.

3. Demonstrate your Skills: In an educational or community setting as a pilot residency.

4. Participate in Elk County Council on the Arts Professional Development: Training is conducted by ECCOTA to reflect the articulated needs of the artists, schools and community organizations for effective Arts in Education practices.

5. Artists must acquire all background and criminal clearances before being contracted for a residency.

   - Act 34 (Criminal Background Check) 
   - Act 141/33 (Child Abuse History) 
   - Act 114 (Federal Criminal History Record) 
   - Step-by-step directions to apply for clearances

For more information please contact ECCOTA's Arts in Education partner by emailing cameron@eccota.com or calling 814-772-7051.