What is a teaching artist?

 

image: teaching artists from Lincoln Center Education's Leadership and Advocacy Lab in clown nose with Jean Taylor and Eric Booth

Also sometimes called an artist-educator, a teaching artist is "a practicing professional artist with the complementary skills, curiosities and sensibilities of an educator, who can effectively engage a wide range of people in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts" (Eric Booth, from History of Teaching Artistry). Beyond merely teaching how to paint a picture or play an instrument, teaching artists are uniquely poised to create and lead interactive experiences around subjects like collaboration and collegiality, building community, effective communication, and creative problem solving. Because of this, teaching artists are in demand in corporate settings as well as in schools, community centers, and arts organizations. 

Sven Edward Olbash