Creative Classroom Symposium: Making a Living and Building a Life as a Teaching Artist

Saturday, August 2
1 pm ET/12 pm CT/10 am PT

Are you interested in learning more about a life in arts education? Would you like to explore what opportunities are available as a Teaching Artist in your community?

Teaching Artistry can be deeply rewarding and meaningful work, and the shape of each Teaching Artist's career is unique to their own individual creativity. Join us, your entertainment and performing arts community, and national Arts Education leaders for a day of inspiring insights, creative conversations and collective capacity-building to support the role of Teaching Artists in the movement for arts education.

The opening sessions will include:

• Keynote Presentation and Artmaking Workshop with Dr. Kate Zankowicz, Director of Education at Craft Contemporary 
• Spotlight on LA Panel, featuring: 
  • Raul Flores, Interim Executive Director, ArtworxLA 
  • Sam Jay Gold, Arts Education Specialist, Pasadena Playhouse 
  • Marissa Herrera, Artistic/Executive Director, 4C LAB  
  • Donzell Lewis, Curriculum & Instruction Specialist, P.S. Arts 

Breakout Discussions will include:

• Distinctions Between Teaching Artists and Credentialed Arts Teachers, featuring:
  • Dr. Kristin Vanderlip-Taylor, Associate Professor of Arts Education, Cal State Northridge 
  • Dr. Laurel Butler, Arts Education Specialist, The Career Center at the Entertainment Community Fund 
• Branding and Entrepreneurship in Teaching Artistry
  • Shannan Calcutt, Teaching Artist, Cirque du Soleil  
  • Natasha Mercado, Teaching Artist, The Unusual Suspects Theater Company

The closing sessions will include:

• The National Field Panel, featuring:  
  • Courtney Boddie, Vice President of Education & School Engagement at New 42
  • Sogand Tabatabei, Arts Learning Specialist, Nevada Arts Council 
  • Emily Yewell Volin, Arts Education Program Manager, Georgia Arts Council 
  • Devon VanHouten-Maldonado, Executive Director, SkyART Chicago  
  • Jean Johnstone (moderator), Cultural Policy Consultant, J. Johnstone Consulting 
• Concluding Remarks and information about The Career Center’s 2025 Teaching Artist Program with representatives from the Entertainment Community Fund

Come prepared to make art, take notes, ask questions, be inspired and engage in meaningful discussions about the myriad ways that a life in Teaching Artistry can be designed to flourish.

Thank you to our sponsor, Sony Pictures!

Please register or log in to our Entertainment Community Fund Portal to access our workshops, programs and services. Our portal is designed to cater to your individual needs and interests, offering access to a wide range of resources and support—all with the guidance and understanding of what it takes to build a life and career in the arts.