*NDCA's Rostered Teaching Artist Application is currently being revised so please hold off on applying until this message disappears.
NDCA Teaching Artist Program
The mission of NDCA Arts in Education program is designed to enrich and support arts education throughout North Dakota. This mission is supported by the belief that professional artists can enhance the educational process and provide inroads to learning that are engaging, creative, and meaningful.
Teaching artists are practicing creatives - such as visual artists, writers, performers, musicians, and culture‑bearers - who can translate their creative process into an instructional setting and engage people in learning experiences. The NDCA Teaching Artist Roster supports schools and organizations in finding qualified, community‑engaged artists who are prepared to lead meaningful, standards‑aligned arts experiences across North Dakota.
What it means to be on the roster?
- Roster membership lasts five years.
- To renew, you will re-submit your profile and show proof of active participation (for example: contracted residencies, presentations, workshops, and/or professional development).
- Being on the roster is not a guarantee of employment. Teaching artists are expected to market their services directly to schools and organizations.
- NDCA may offer training and professional development opportunities during your roster term.
- NDCA may request updated information related to your profile, roster activity, or professional development.
- Membership in the Teaching Artist Community is subject to ongoing review. NDCA reserves the right to remove an artist from the Teaching Artist Community at its discretion if it determines that removal is in the best interest of the program
Typical residency expectations:
- Traditional residencies are often thought of as 2 to 5 days with approximately 10 to 20 contact hours. NDCA also supports schedules that meet the needs of schools and artists.
- Artists and schools work together to define the arts education need, schedule, and overall program cost.
- Residencies may include time with additional non-core students through shorter exposure lessons.
- Many residencies include a teacher in-service or workshop before, during, or after the residency.
- Residencies must include a community sharing component at the end, such as a performance, presentation, open studio, exhibit, or reading.
Eligibility:
- Applications are accepted year-round.
- Applicants must be 19 or older.
- NDCA encourages applications from practicing professional artists.
- Individuals who are currently enrolled in college are generally not eligible to apply unless they have a substantial professional history in their artistic field and in teaching artist work
Quick checklist: what to have ready before you begin the application:
- Your basic contact information and where you are available to work (geographic availability).
- A short bio and teaching philosophy.
- A sample residency or lesson plan (either complete the fields in the form or upload a lesson plan document).
- Your resume (PDF preferred).
- One letter of recommendation that includes the recommender's contact information.
- Recent work samples (links and/or files) from the past two years.
- A professional photo for the website
How applications are reviewed:
Applications are reviewed based on the following areas:
- Artistic capacity
- Teaching capacity
- Residency planning
- Teacher and artist involvement
- Community engagement
- Support materials
Questions or Assistance
BEFORE you apply, contact Director of Learning & Partnerships Matthew Anderson to confirm eligibility | mabanderson@nd.gov | (701) 328-7593
How to complete the online application:
- Complete your contact information and mailing address.
- Select your primary discipline(s), grade level preferences, and geographic availability.
- Share your daily residency fee to help schools plan.
- Write a short bio and teaching philosophy that can be used on the roster webpage
These questions help reviewers understand your teaching approach, experience, and readiness to work in schools and community settings. Short, specific answers are encouraged. Bullet points are welcome.
- Artist journey and motivation: Why teaching? What draws you to this work?
- Student impact story: Share one real example of arts learning making a difference.
- Welcoming learning environment: How do you build trust, structure, and creative risk-taking?
- Arts integration: Share one example of connecting your art form to another subject area.
- Teacher in-service plan: What will teachers experience and take back to the classroom?
- Community engagement: How do you involve families and community partners?
- Professional growth: How do you stay current in your field and continue developing as a teaching artist?
You may either (1) complete the lesson plan fields in the form or (2) upload a lesson plan document. Your sample plan should give teachers a clear picture of what to expect.
- Include a clear description of the project and what students will create or do.
- Provide a simple day-by-day outline.
- List materials and note what you will provide versus what the site or school will provide.
- Explain how you will build in reflection and evaluate learning.
Required uploads:
- Resume (PDF preferred).
- One letter of recommendation with contact information for the recommender.
- Work samples from the past two years:
- Dance/Theatre: a link or file of a recent performance or production you directed or choreographed.
- Music: a link or file of a recent performance you gave or directed.
- Literature: up to 5 pages of representative recent work (PDF preferred).
- Visual Arts/Crafts/Photography/Media Arts: up to 20 images of recent work, or a portfolio link.
- Examples of student work are encouraged when available.
As part of the application, you will be asked to grant NDCA permission to use selected submitted materials for publication, promotional purposes, and educational initiatives related to the program, with appropriate credit to you as the artist.