The artist-teacher partnership is key to a successful program for the students. The classroom resources available here are to support planning and implementation of projects by teachers and artists.
Announcing the Program
Communicate with all schools the goals and requirements of the program. Establish an application process for schools and clearly communicate how schools will be selected. Also in your plan, decide on a form of on-going communication that works with the schools throughout the life of program.
Build an Orientation Package & Contract
Artists will need to be made aware of policies and systems in your school board or First Nations educational authority. In AIR(E), it is the school board or educational authority’s responsibility to support the artists in their work in the schools. Provide a contract to outline expectations, rights and responsibilities.
Artists will need to have information about the following:
- provide name and address of the school and a contact person they can call with questions and problems
- provide board or educational authority contact name, title, phone, email information
- school policies
- Health and Safety policies including Duty to Report
- dress code
Contracts should outline the responsibilities of the teacher/school and the artist and speak to the role the board or educational authority has once the project is in progress. Perhaps look to current contracts for temporary workers in your schools that you could amend. Additionally consider outlining the following:
- establish roles
- expectations for if the artist is sick
- design system for paying the artists
- discipline issues—how are discipline issues handled in the classroom and by whom
- what to do if a project is cancelled or postponed
Responsibilities of the Teacher/School
Following are some suggestions you could include in the contract. Teacher/School is responsible for:
- working with the artist to design the AIR(E) project
- communicating any special needs among students in class
- being the primary adult responsible for classroom management
- being in classroom at all times (an artist is not to be left alone)
- supporting the artist
- managing class dynamics in partnership with artist
- participating in program
- student assessment
- program evaluation
Responsibilities of the Artist
Encourage artists to prepare an outline for teachers of what they need to make their workshop successful. Following are some suggestions you could include in the contract. Artist is responsible for:
- collaborating with teachers to plan and implement the project
- working with students on artistic works
- facilitate students’ acquisition of artistic skills, learning and understanding of the creative process
- complying with the provisions of their contracts with the school board or educational authority
- ensuring they are aware of school’s policies
- transportation costs unless deemed eligible for reimbursement by the school board or educational authority
| Resource |
Description |
| EXAMPLE: School Proposal, Durham District School Board, 2017 |
A form for schools to indicate interest in school board or educational authority arts initiative. |
| Join the Journey. York Region District School Board, 2008 |
A guide for teacher and artist collaboration with documented examples of classroom projects. |
| London Artist in Residence Artist Teacher Resource, London Arts Council, 2017 |
Guiding principles, roles and responsibilities of artists and teachers. |
| AIR(E) Reflection Questions, EngageArts, Toronto District School Board, 2017 |
Questions for groups of artists and teachers to reflect on their project experience. |
| AIR EngageArts Planning Tool, Toronto District School Board, 2017 |
Contact information, co-sharing responsibilities of key elements of a successful project. |
| AER(É) Reseignments et les roles, Ambassad’arts, Conseil scolaire publique du Grand Nord, 2016 |
General information and roles and responsibilities for artists and teachers. Available in French only. |
| EXAMPLE: Artist Invoice Template |
Example and billing template for artists. |