The West Virginia Commission on the Arts of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History (WVDCH) has announced new opportunities available for West Virginia artists. The arts section of the Division will administer the new programs.
The expanded opportunities include acceptance of applications to the Artist Database, the Demonstrating Artist Roster, the Teaching Artist Roster, and a series of workshops entitled What is a Teaching Artist?
The Artist Database will serve as a comprehensive listing of West Virginia artists. The Demonstrating Artist Roster, consisting of talented and professional artists for hire, and the Teaching Artist Roster, a list of artists skilled in both their artistic discipline and as instructors, will be published and made available as a resource across the state. Artists who have been previously listed on the Arts in Education Roster must reapply.
The What is a Teaching Artist? workshops are being held in partnership with the Appalachian Education Initiative. Modeled after the artist-in-residence program, the workshop will introduce artists to the skills necessary to be a successful professional teaching artist. The first workshop will be held Tuesday, Jan. 27, in Flatwoods. Subsequent sessions will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Beckley, and Tuesday, March 3, in Morgantown. The time and venue will be announced in January.
The What is a Teaching Artist? workshops require advance registration and are free of charge. Lunch will be provided to the registered participants. The deadline for registration is one week prior to the workshop date. Two weeks advance notification for special accommodations is requested.
The mission of the Appalachian Education Initiative is to promote students’ personal development, academic performance and 21st century workforce preparation by ensuring that educators, parents, business and community leaders and others understand the value of arts education and support its place from kindergarten through 12 grade.
Artists and other interested individuals can obtain a copy of the New Opportunities for Artists Packet in PDF format online at the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org/arts/grants/2008 artistdirectory.pdf.
For more information about the new opportunities or to register for a workshop, contact Maya Nye, arts in education coordinator for the Division, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 713, or by e-mail at maya.nye@wvculture.org.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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