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Teaching artist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Rachel Blackburn Ph.D.,

Ayden Adler Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical teaching artist skills. We ranked the top skills for teaching artists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.3% of teaching artist resumes contained art curriculum as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a teaching artist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 teaching artist skills for your resume and career

1. Art Curriculum

Here's how teaching artists use art curriculum:

Created art curriculum for 2nd graders and 6th graders based on my art practice.
Developed art curriculum with a team of four based around community.

2. Arts Education

Here's how teaching artists use arts education:

Assist with the art integration program and Early Childhood Music Arts Education classes at Christina Cultural Arts Center.
Develop residency programs in accordance with the NYS Blueprint for Arts Education and the Common Core Standards.

3. Art Lessons

Here's how teaching artists use art lessons:

Designed and delivered visual art lessons to students and to teaching professionals on a contract basis.
Design and implement suitable art lessons for both low and high functioning patients.

4. Public Schools

Public schools are available for everyone. They are funded and controlled by the government. With state guidance, each school board determines the curricula, finances, and jobs for schools within its borders. The government also decides on academic standards and standardised tests.

Here's how teaching artists use public schools:

Provided instruction and choreographed performances in modern, jazz, step and creative movement (grades 1-12) in NYC public schools
Teach drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and sculpture in New York City public schools to grades K-12.

5. Creative Drama

Here's how teaching artists use creative drama:

Facilitated two separate once-a-week creative dramatics classes for preschoolers and 1st-2nd graders.
Facilitated 7 creative drama workshops with LGBT youth about identity, family, and social themes.

6. Poetry

Here's how teaching artists use poetry:

Researched and developed poetry curriculum for adults for Creative Writing and Performance Poetry.
Coached GWCP's poetry team to two consecutive regional slam championships and as well as producing one individual citywide semi-finalist poet.

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7. Classroom Management

Here's how teaching artists use classroom management:

Exhibited excellent classroom management skills.
Implemented classroom management visual aids for students to track behavioral and work progress throughout class time.

8. NYC

NYC stands for New York City.

Here's how teaching artists use nyc:

Develop and instruct residencies for kindergarten through sixth grade* Lead professional development workshops for NYC classroom teachers
Coordinate with NYC Dept of Ed, execute dance curriculum to cultivate essential life skills, respect, confidence, and teamwork

9. Art History

Art history is the study of art over various periods of time. Art historians may be able to identify the material that created the art, which could say a lot about people during an era. By researching and understanding how and why art was created, one may have a better understanding of humanity and what was valued at the time the art was produced.

Here's how teaching artists use art history:

Engaged students in collaborative mural projects and lessons focused on art history, techniques, principles and elements.
Prepared weekly lesson plan guiding students through art history, technique demonstration, studio and reflection.

10. Musical Theater

Here's how teaching artists use musical theater:

Work on developing basic singing skills and musicianship, learn popular songs, as well as classic musical theater songs.
Administer Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, and Musical Theater technique classes/workshops and commission several original dance pieces.

11. K-12

K12 is a term that incldues all 12 years of education in the US education system. It includes the education offered at the primary stage, middle stage, and secondary stage. It includes children of ages as young as 5 to 18 years. The grades included in K12 are Kindergarten, the initial 5 stages, grades 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. This system is followed specifically followed in the US and may vary in other countries.

Here's how teaching artists use k-12:

Developed a curriculum incorporating reading comprehension, project-based teaching and social development for K-12 students.
Worked as a free-lance artist, conducting workshops for educators and their students in LCI's NY Metropolitan area K-12 schools.

12. Visual Arts

Here's how teaching artists use visual arts:

Collaborated with Visual Arts instructor for cross-disciplinary performance project.
Worked with students grades 3-5 on visual arts projects with an emphasis on community and creating critical thinkers and creative artists.

13. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how teaching artists use graphic design:

Served as a facilitator and teaching artist for a group of 12 student interns creating graphic designs for an established client
Created unique, creative lessons in Graphic Design, Visual Art, and Design Fundamentals for high school students.

14. Shakespeare

Here's how teaching artists use shakespeare:

Created and implemented lesson plans to introduce and familiarize students with the work and world of William Shakespeare.
Create stories through student stop animation movies, skits, Shakespeare and theater exercises.

15. Professional Development Workshops

Here's how teaching artists use professional development workshops:

Teach Adult dance workshops, family workshops and facilitate arts educator professional development workshops/session.
Trained in arts integration through Professional Development workshops and curriculum coaching.

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What skills help Teaching Artists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on teaching artist resumes?

Rachel Blackburn Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Columbus State University

Skills that stand out on resumes: Right now, in particular, post-pandemic, skills that are going to stand out for theatres will speak to technological savvy: they will include working with new ways of communicating and disseminating performance, likely tied to online platforms such as Zoom, Slack, Asana Project Management software, etc. People who can take the initiative, innovate, and collaborate will be the most sought-after candidates. The theatre world will be relying on this next generation to rethink our traditional modes of performance, communication, and dissemination, so someone who can demonstrate on their resume that they are reliable, highly communicative (excellent oral and written communication skills), and entrepreneurial will undoubtedly stand out.

What hard/technical skills are most important for teaching artists?

Ayden Adler Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Arts Administration, University of Houston – Downtown

At UHD, we have over 200 students currently enrolled in our Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Fine Arts degree who study arts administration, visual art, music, dance, graphic design, and theatre. Our students often focus on one particular art form with personal meaning to them, but they all develop their talents and cultural knowledge through a varied and rigorous schedule of courses, internships, and co-curricular activities. Our faculty includes professional studio artists, practicing musicians, actors, acclaimed historians, and nonprofit arts leaders.
Fine arts majors graduate with an understanding of art, performance, and personal expression. In addition, students acquire strong skills in business, management, research, public speaking, and writing. Graduates who earn a BA in Fine Arts at UHD can describe in detail the historical and stylistic development of each of the fine arts; they can effectively analyze and communicate the significance of humanities and fine arts products and performances, and they can execute the foundational tasks that drive the operations of nonprofit arts institutions. And they can express their ideas through multiple artistic media.

What soft skills should all teaching artists possess?

Michael Staczar

Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, Chair,Associate Professor, Speech, Theatre and Dance, The University of Tampa

I like to see that they have a broad background of related experience in the performing arts. The credits on a resume show me what they have done, but related experience - such as stage management, technical theater, and so on - show me that they are a well-rounded performing artist.

What teaching artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Constant Albertson Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Art / Art Education, University of Maine

I would recommend to any undergraduate to work with a non-profit on some community-based service, particularly one related to their area of study. Learning about people, the problems of communities, and social skills in working with people who are different from themselves in important ways. Learning to deal with frustration. Learning collaborative skills. Learning to trust their ability to learn, to be inventive, and to follow through even when things are not going the way they want.

What type of skills will young teaching artists need?

Carol Fairlie

Professor of Art, Sul Ross State University

-Teamwork
-The ability to plan
-The ability to project into the future and meet a schedule.
-The ability to understand writing, proposals, grant writing (boilerplates)
-The willingness to learn, evolve and apply what they already know.

Do you want to know more?

List of teaching artist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a teaching artist resume and required skills for a teaching artist to have include:

Art Curriculum
Arts Education
Art Lessons
Public Schools
Creative Drama
Poetry
Classroom Management
NYC
Art History
Musical Theater
K-12
Visual Arts
Graphic Design
Shakespeare
Professional Development Workshops
Digital Photography

Public Speaking
Kindergarten
Improv
Pre-K
Fine Arts
Mathematics
Art Classes
Syllabus
Printmaking
Language Arts
Elementary Schools
Social Justice
Conflict Resolution
Art Projects
Co-Taught
Social Studies

Bronx
After-School Program
Arts Integration
Songwriting
at-Risk Youth
K-5
Theatre Arts
Combat
Art Form
K-8
Filmmaking
Private Schools
Theatre Classes
Comedy
Youth Ages
ESL

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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