ArtsEd West is dedicated to securing a well-rounded, artful education for all students. Passionate, highly trained and resourced teaching artists are pivotal to this work.
Our Teaching Artist Certification is a comprehensive 7-month program designed specifically for Arizona artists who are currently working in, or looking to enter, the field of K-12 education. Whether you are an established practitioner looking to refine your pedagogy or an emerging artist ready to bring your craft into the classroom, this pilot cohort is built to elevate your practice, expand your network, and solidify your impact.
This pilot program is accepting 15 applicants, and the program runs between July 2026- January 2027 and includes:
3 Professionally Facilitated Live Sessions (26 total hours) building foundational skills for transformative arts education and professional development.
7 Self-Paced Practice Sessions (9 total hours) featuring direct, individualized mentor feedback.
A Professionally Coordinated Cohort Residency Experience, giving you hands-on, collaborative teaching hours in the community.
By completing the certification you will develop new skills and create tangible assets to advance your career:
A Personalized Teaching Artist Resource Toolkit filled with your own standards-aligned rubrics, classroom management maps, and lesson plans.
A Digital Cohort Badge and an official Certificate of Completion.
Participation in the ArtsEd West Recognition Ceremony.
An official listing on the ArtsEd West Certified Teaching Artist Roster, signifying your demonstrated professional readiness for school and community partnerships.
Complete the application within the due date: 06.15.2026
Rating of applications for the purpose of program selection will include the quality of applicant responses, the order in which applications are received, and our commitment to provide services to a broad representation of teaching artists and communities, among other factors. Selection results including instructions for registration, if offered, will be delivered via email at least three weeks prior to the start of the program.
Participants must agree to participate in all scheduled sessions.
The training schedule can be reviewed here (subject to change).
Teaching Artist Certification Pilot Program - Schedule
This document outlines the planned schedule for the 2026 pilot program, including in-person and virtual training. Guest Presenters and Subject Matte Experts will be announced with selected participants.