How will the 2024-25 program be affected by COVID-19?
The health and safety of our participants is the first priority for our TAP team. For the 2024-25 school year, TAP will be meeting for Core Workshops in-person, with safety measures in place, including open windows and an air filter. If there is any discomfort with the safety measures taken by the TAP Team during the training, trainees are encouraged to speak to the TAP Team directly, as soon as possible.
Some elective workshops will be virtual. Please see the 2024-25 Program Overview for complete details on what to expect of this year’s training.
What kinds of artists can apply?
Artists of all disciplines are eligible to apply including creative writers, dancers, musicians, theater and performance artists, visual artists and media artists.
Is this program for me? Who exactly does the TAP program serve?
The TAP 8 month signature program serves artists and arts educators coming from a wide range of backgrounds when it comes to creative practice and teaching experience. This program could be a great fit for you if:
- You already have some experience in the teaching artist field, but are seeking:
- Further professional development and skills around curriculum building
- A deeper understanding of how to develop a justice-oriented teaching practice
- A sense of community and connection within the field of teaching artistry
- An understanding of what entrepreneurship opportunities exist within the teaching artist field
- You are an experienced educator who desires:
- More practical application of social justice approaches in creative arts classrooms
- Further direction on creating a sustainable career in arts education
- Guided support to build your own socially engaged arts program
- Continued professional development around developing multi-disciplinary arts curriculum
- You have little to no teaching experience, but are an artist with a strong commitment to your own practice, and an interest in gaining facilitation and curriculum building skills to teach your art form in group settings
- You’re a student with an interest in the intersection of arts, activism, and education, looking to supplement your learning with hands-on experience.
- You are an administrator within Arts Education and would like to gain experience as a Teaching Artist.
I cannot participate in the 24-25 session. When can I apply for Summer Institute?
Summer Institute is in an intentional reimagining space. We hope to give our community an update of our intentions for Summer Institute in the spring of 2025.
Does the program help me find work as a Teaching Artist?
TAP is designed to prepare you to enter the Teaching Artist field. TAP has developed a Cohort, working with a collective of local arts-in-education organizations, and is well known in the NYC arts-in-education community. Local arts-in-education organizations look favorably upon our graduates when hiring.
Career development will be a part of this year’s training, in which TAP will help its trainees build a portfolio of work and explore other avenues of work in the arts education field. Community Word Project (CWP) hosts the Arts in Education Job Fair in partnership with The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable.
Also, TAP publishes our end of the year anthology online in order to promote our graduates as Teaching Artists. Many of our graduates post the anthology as a part of their resume, and numerous arts-in-education partners have been using it to get an in-depth view of our artists. You may view previous anthologies here.
Who is eligible to participate in TAP sessions?
TAP is focused on supporting working teaching artists. A working teaching artist has some experience in the classroom, is actively teaching (whether virtually or in-person), and has thorough experience planning, teaching, and reflecting as an arts educator, and is committed to intentionally breaking open their teaching practice in order to take the next steps in becoming a high quality arts educator. If you are a student pursuing Teaching Artistry you are also welcome to apply.
Does the program lead to work as a Teaching Artist with Community-Word Project?
Graduating from TAP does not guarantee work with CWP. However, most of our Teaching Artists have completed either TAP or our Summer Institute program. CWP will hold auditions for teaching artists positions in May/June and graduates of the TAP program are guaranteed an audition.
Does the training prepare me to be a certified teacher in NYC public schools?
No. The Teaching Artist Project (TAP) is designed as professional development to prepare artists to work as Teaching Artists, not classroom teachers or certified arts specialists (cluster teachers).
What if I’ve applied in the past and not been offered a spot?
Every year, we are only able to offer a select number of spots in the training and many qualified individuals apply. We make every effort to give special consideration to individuals who reapply. Please note on your application that you have previously applied.
What if I was previously accepted, but could not attend at the time?
If you were previously accepted into TAP, but were not able to attend at that time, we extend that acceptance for at least the subsequent year.
Do I have to live in NYC to apply?
In short, yes. The majority of TAP weekend workshops, and all internships, will be held in person in New York City. You must either live in NYC, or make arrangements to be in person regularly throughout the duration of the program.
What is a Justice Oriented Practice?
Community-Word Project’s definition of social justice is, “Awareness of injustice leads to reflection about our role in this injustice, followed by taking creative action to both combat that injustice and envision new, ethical possibilities. It is a living definition in the shape of a circle because, for us, social justice is a repetition of this process and never-ending.”
In this training we will analyze artistic works that depict different social justice issues. We will engage in both group and self reflection around these issues. We will also experience lesson plans and imagine lesson plans that will guide learners in our communities through unpacking social justice issues.
TAP takes into consideration the sensitivity of these topics, and attempts to create a safe and brave space for discussion. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of emotional safety when unpacking such serious issues. If emotional harm occurs at any point in the application process, or during the program, participants are encouraged to alert the TAP Team.
What are the requirements for graduating from the program?
All trainees must complete 75 required training hours (a combined total of mandatory workshops, electives and salons, and internship hours). Trainees on the students’ track must complete 65 required training hours. Trainees may be required to contribute extra hours outside of workshops to complete lesson plan presentations with a partner. (Please see the Overview of the Program for more information). Those who complete the program will receive a formal certificate detailing the requirements they have completed.
What assignments and coursework are required in the program?
We have designed several assignments that will help trainees gain skills and experience. The materials you create will be useful in your teaching portfolio as you seek Teaching Artist work.
Assignments can include yet are not limited to resumes, curriculum design, artist statements and collaborative projects. These assignments require time outside of the seminars and internships and must be completed on time in order to graduate from the program.
What if I am sick, have an emergency, or other commitment on one of the training dates?
We understand that you have other commitments and priorities, while participating in the training. If you know you will have a conflict with a particular date, we recommend finding another trainee who is willing to catch you up on what you missed. There are no make-up training days. There are opportunities to make up missed training hours by attending electives, but all trainees may only miss TWO of the mandatory Saturday workshops and still be eligible to complete the program. If a trainee is unable to participate, we will gladly defer their acceptance until the following session/year.
Where does the non-refundable fee go?
CWP invests over $2000 in each trainee in both hard costs and internal resources. We fundraise all year long to support the program and make it possible for more trained Teaching Artists to enter the field annually. The fee offsets the cost of materials, space and expert facilitators we use in the workshops. Payment is expected upon acceptance into the program. Payment must be complete by the start of the program, unless a payment plan agreement is made, and is non-refundable.
Scholarships are available based on financial need. If you believe that you qualify for consideration, please submit a one-page request letter. Explain why you qualify and describe what your participation will bring to the training. All scholarship requests should be included with your application.
Are there any other training dates?
We offer a variety of electives on both weekdays and weekends throughout the training on select topics. We collaborate with DreamYard Project, The Center for Arts Education, National Dance Institute, Brooklyn Arts Council, Marquis Studios, and Teachers & Writers Collaborative, amongst others Because of these partnerships we are very pleased to be able to offer special electives on various subjects, which include but are not limited to Trauma-Informed Facilitation, Alternative Populations, Creative Writing, Universal Design for Learning, Visual & Performance Arts, Teaching for ELLs, Teaching for Social Justice and many more. Dates will be announced once confirmed. These additional opportunities may function as make-up hours if you had to miss one of the Saturday trainings. Keep in mind that you may only miss two of the mandatory Saturday trainings and still complete the program.
Besides CWP, are there opportunities to mentor with other arts-in-education organizations?
For the last several years, CWP has partnered with organizations in our TAP Alliance, in order to create additional internship tracks and give trainees more experience in different classroom settings. Available additional internship opportunities will be made available to trainees at the start of training, when possible.
What are the Teaching Artist Salons?
There will be two community salons throughout the year and each trainee is required to attend both. The focus of these salons is to enhance the TAP community experience and support each trainee’s artistic life. Salons will be in-person and facilitated by trainees of the program with assistance from the TAP Team.
What additional requirements are there for the Program?
Scholarship recipients are required to volunteer an additional 10 hours of work-study with Community-Word Project. Options to complete these hours include: writing blog posts, creating social media content, assisting the TAP team during in-person events, etc.
What about other questions I might still have?
Please contact the TAP Team at TAP@communitywordproject.org
