Boston Arts Academy - Teachers as Artists

DEVELOPMENT

Teachers as Artists

Printer-Friendly Version

TAA is a competitive local fellowship program that awards up to eight $5,000 Fellowships each year to arts educators in Boston Public Schools (BPS).

Through this program, outstanding arts educators explore individual artistic goals and dreams while connecting with new practices and resources in their disciplines. Our goal is to enhance the quality of arts education in the Boston Public Schools.

Each $5,000 award may be used for the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, travel, necessary materials or equipment, childcare, and other relevant expenses.

Fellows’ home schools receive a $1,500 award to support the Fellows’ Post-Fellowship work and Fellows receive a scholarship to attend Boston Arts Academy’s Summer Institute for Arts in Education.

Applicants for Teachers as Artists must be teachers at Elementary, Middle or High School level (grades 6-12) in non-arts focused Boston Public Schools. Applicants must also have taught for a minimum of three years in BPS and be returning to their home schools the following school year. Both part- and full-time teachers are encouraged to apply.

Teachers as Artists accepts applicants from the following disciplines: Visual Arts, Theatre, Music, Dance, Film, Creative Writing and Multi-Disciplinary Arts.

All applicants must submit a completed application. From all applications a group of finalists will be selected for panel review. Finalists’ applications will be reviewed by a panel of local professional artists and educators, using the following criteria:

• Quality and relevance of the selected Fellowship venue.

• Quality and realistic expectations of the plan.

• Quality of artists/mentors with whom Fellowship will take place.

• Potential impact of the experience on students and the school community.

TAA, a previous program of The Boston Plan for Excellence, aspires to create a community of like-minded artists, scholars, and educators who work together as collaborators and colleagues. On behalf of the Center for Arts in Education at Boston Arts Academy, TAA, would like to invite you to learn more about this exciting program.

For questions or information on the TAA Program, please contact Ms. Corey Evans at cevans@bostonartsacademy.org or 617-635-6470, ext. 312.

2010 Teachers as Artists Fellows

Jennifer S. Berry

William McKinley South End Academy

Will train in Readers Theatre with The Readers Theatre Institute in Chicago, IL for two weeks.

Christina M. Bynoe

Blackstone Elementary School

Will study under the umbrella of theatre avatar, Ellen Stewart, the founder of La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club for three weeks at the 11th Annual La MaMa International Symposium for Directors, in Spoleto, Italy.

Carolyn Diviacchi

Donald McKay K-8

Will study drawing and tonal painting techniques at the International School for Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture in Montecastello di Vibio, Italy.

Martha J. Kempe

Mather Elementary School

Will participate in a residential painting course in Benaraba, Spain in order to experience Spanish art, architecture, and culture. Ms. Kempe will paint alongside a group of international artists, all under the expert tutelage of professional artist, Marion Henke, and to paint while traveling to Seville and Madrid to view the Spanish masterpieces in museums and experience the culturally rich architectural landmarks.

Kim Taylor Knight

Curley K-8 School

Will participate in workshops at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies and in open classes at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City to renew and refresh chorographic skills.

Kathleen Osul

Snowden International School

Will participate in a photography workshop with mentoring artist Peter Turnley in Istanbul, Turkey for one week.

Paul J. Pitts

Boston Latin School

Will study African drumming and dance for three weeks at The Dagbe Cultural Center in Kopeyla, Ghana.

Sally Wattles

Roosevelt K-8

Will participate in a painting workshop at Ghost Ranch Conference Center in Abiquiu, NM to study Georgia O’Keefe’s home landscape and painting styles. Will also travel to Yosemite National Park to explore Albert Bierstadt’s inspiration and work.

2009 Teacher as Artist Fellows

Teachers As Artists (TAA) is a local expansion of the National Surdna Arts Teachers Fellowship program. TAA is made possible by a Leadership Grant from the Surdna Foundation.