Program Update on the Availability of Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Teaching Artist Residency Grants
Please see the following update:
As of August 31, 2026, funding available through Pennsylvania Creative Industries' Teaching Artist Residency program will discontinue statewide. This information is being shared now to help with planning and budgetary activities going forward.
Background
Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ governing Council recently adopted a new strategic plan, alongside an updated agency mission to empower, connect, and amplify creatives and creative industries and their contributions to Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and workforce. The agency vision is that Pennsylvania becomes the national leader among states for creative communities, talent, and industries.
To maximize progress on its mission and ensure its work aligns with this, Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Council adopted five key areas around which to focus its resources: asset development, workforce development, community development, visibility, and policy.
Looking Ahead
Over the coming months, Pennsylvania Creative Industries will be publishing new and expanded opportunities for the Commonwealth’s creative sector. You can sign up for news here and access new program guidelines on Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ website.
Questions
- For question regarding current teaching artist residency funding, contact the Arts in Education Partner organization in your region.
- For general questions regarding the Teaching Artist Residency program, contact Jamie Dunlap, PA Creative Industries’ Chief of Creative Catalysts & Lifelong Learning.
About the AIE Program
Through artist residencies, the Arts in Education (AIE) Division enables artists to help others explore and develop their creativity and artistic skills in a variety of educational, community and institutional settings.
Arts in Education Residency (AIE) residency grants support a teaching artist and a host site (for example a K-12 school, senior center, veterans' home, or medical facility) to provide the opportunity for a professional teaching artist (or artists) to work with small groups of learners on one or more long-term projects over a set period of time.
What's a residency like?
- During a residency, participating learners have creative control over their work.
- During a residency, a teaching artist must mentor students. They should help students through guided self-discovery. A teaching artist will also advise on important artistic concepts and skills.
- Artist residencies are developed collaboratively between the artist and the host organization.
- Residency planning is an important part of the residency development. It is is conducted well in advance of the beginning of the residency. This allows time for both the resident artist and host to make detailed arrangements.
Apply for a Residency
About the Arts in Education (AIE) Partnership
Our AIE Partnership enables us to work with and through regional service organizations to provide a higher level of quality and quantity of arts in education services to the field. It is the Council’s intent to strengthen the efficiency and impact of the PCA’s arts in education program while empowering local leadership and action and leveraging additional resources.
AIE partners recruit, select, train, place, and evaluate professional-quality teaching artists for residencies in school and community settings. Partners provide professional development opportunities in arts in education for artists, community organizations and schools in the counties they serve. The partnership currently serves all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
Additional Services
AIE partner organizations also provide professional development opportunities in arts in education for artists, community organizations and schools in the counties they serve.
To learn more about what AIE opportunities in your region, contact the AIE partner organization in your county.