2024 National Guild Conference

Arts Education and Teaching Artist.

Artists are the Gatekeepers of the Truth.

The National Guild for Community Arts Education held their yearly conference this year in Washington, DC, and welcomed nonprofit and community arts organizations to restart the process of reenergizing their platforms through networking and therapeutic listening sessions. It was informative and uplifting to see teaching artist, administrators and funders unite to move forward to the next wave of advocacy for arts education.

As a conference ambassador, I found immense joy in the conversations, break-out meeting rooms, and the process of connecting with like-minded individuals. It was a truly fulfilling experience, envisioning the future of community arts education with my peers. As a teaching artist, I deeply understand and value the importance of these trained professionals, often underappreciated by academic educators and faculty. I specialize in teaching storytelling methods and oral and written spoken word poetry, which are among the oldest forms of oral tradition. This tradition, passed down from masters to apprentices and parents to children, is a testament to the power of instruction in skill acquisition, guiding students on their path to a fulfilling life.

Teaching artists have expertise in their chosen art discipline and must receive adequate compensation for what they offer to underrepresented communities and society. Together with academic teachers, establishes a true force of educators that can move the next generation of thinkers into a place of creative intelligence and begin to transcend the minds of creators and ethical leaders who need diversity in optionality and thought.

Limitless possibilities

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Limitless possibilities 〰️

Artist:

A person who practices any of the various creative arts.

Teacher:

A person who teaches especially in school.

Education:

The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction at a school or university.