Art & Classroom Supplies

  • Barnes & Noble
    Barnes & Noble offers 20% off discount cards for educators.
  • Craigslist's opportunities for artists
    This link opens up info about art supplies for sale, job leads, etc. In addition, you can advertise classes here for free.
  • Creative ReUse Warehouse
    CRW is located at 222 E. 135th Place, Chicago, IL 60627, and their phone number is (773) 821-1351. This is from their website: "This innovative program locates and collects overruns, rejects and by-products that business and industry treat as "waste" and redistributes the materials as valuable educational and artistic resources appropriate for reuse. Donors have an opportunity to dispose of materials free of charge, clear valuable storage space, receive tax deductions and support cultural and educational programs."
  • Dick Blick Art Materials
    Dick Blick has a Chicago location at The Art Store, 1574 N Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL 60622. Their phone # is (312) 573-0110.
  • Paper Source
    Paper Source has two Chicago locations. One is 919 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614, and their phone # 773-525-7300; the other location is 232 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60610, and the phone number is 312-337-0798.
  • The Art Institute of Chicago's Teacher Resource Center
    Educators can borrow up to two items from the TRC's library, free of charge. In addition, you can get your free teacher annual pass for the the Art Institute of Chicago at the TRC. Their phone number is (312) 443-3719.
  • The Field Museum's Harris Educational Loan Program
    The Harris Educational Loan Center contains experience boxes, audiovisual materials, and other materials that can be used in the classroom. There is an annual fee of $30 for educators, but there is no borrowing fee beyond that.

Publications, TV, & Radio

More Local Teaching Artist-Friendly Organizations

  • AntiGravity Surprise
    Anti Gravity Surprise is a public art collaborative that performs cultural research. Each year they create and exhibit multimedia artwork focusing on one social issue, using creative practice as a force for social change.
  • Arts & Entertainment Management Project at the Athenaeum
    AEMP's website says, "The Arts and Entertainment Management Project at The Athenaeum, offers technical support to emerging and established Arts groups of all disciplines."
  • Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
  • Center for Arts Policy
    The Center does research and advances arts policy ideas designed to democratize the arts, understand how they contribute to community vitality and the practice of democracy, and provide full and inclusive opportunities for cultural participation and expression.
  • Chicago Artists Coalition
  • Chicago Social Forum
    The Chicago Social Forum is one of a number of regional and local social forums being organized throughout the world. At the forum, organizations, groups and individuals are able to build alliances and coalitions that strengthen their ability to make more positive changes in their communities.
  • chicagolit.org
    Email announcements from bookstores, journals, publishers and other literary organizations, for readings, signings, journal or magazine releases, discussions, lectures, symposia, special events and other activities in Chicago relating to books, authors and literature.
  • Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago
    Dedicated to serving the people of Chicago by nurturing, enhancing, complementing, and marketing Chicago's cultural resources.
  • Illinois Arts Council
    The IAC recognizes and supports not-for-profit arts organizations, community programs, schools, universities and individual creative artists through grant programs, technical assistance, workshops and special initiatives every year.
  • Performing Arts Chicago
  • Proletariat Productions
    Proletariat Productions is a Chicago-based multimedia production company, specializing in music recording and production. We are dedicated to providing fair and affordable services, and are actively involved in our communities, leading youth arts workshops, and supporting all forms of art and expression.

Medical

Housing

  • Acme Artists Community
    Their website says, "A project of the Near NorthWest Arts Council (NNWAC), Acme is the first work/live artists community in Chicago designed, managed and owned by its members." AAC is located at 2418 W. Bloomingdale Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60647, and their phone number is 773.278.7677.
  • Artspace
    Artspace website says they are "America's leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts."
  • Chicago Partnership for Affordable Neighborhoods
    Once you open up the city of Chicago's website, type "CPAN" in the "search for" window for information.
  • Switching Station Artist Lofts
    SSAL is located at 15 S. Homan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624. For leasing information on available live/work space, contact 773.826.5224.

Contests, Grants, & Awards

Conferences

Lesson Plans & Curriculum Development

National & International Resources

  • Community-Word Project
  • Association of Teaching Artists
  • Alliance for the Arts
  • Americans for the Arts
  • Americans for the Arts' Job Bank
    Americans for the Arts' job bank is quite extensive. You can search for and post job openings here.
  • Arts Education Partnership
  • Arts for Academic Achievement
    AAA's website says, "Arts for Academic Achievement is a successful school reform model that creates collaborations between classroom teachers, artists and arts organizations. AAA is designed to improve student achievement through engaging lesson design, the use of data, strong content focus and arts strategies."
  • ArtsConnection
    Their website says, "ArtsConnection is New York City's most comprehensive, not-for-profit, arts-in-education organization. For twenty-five years, ArtsConnection has made a profound difference in the lives of the City's children by providing exceptional programming in the performing, visual, literary, and media arts to the New York City public schools."
  • artSMart
    Their website says that artSMart "is a constantly updated source of news about the arts in Durban and the rest of KwaZulu-Natal." Their address is The Durban Art Gallery, Second Floor, City Hall, Smith Street, Durban, South Africa.
  • Association of Teaching Artists
    Their website says, "The Association of Teaching Artists (ATA) is a non-profit professional organization whose mission is to strengthen and serve Teaching Artists from all disciplines in New York State. The Association of Teaching Artists strives to create a community of professional Teaching Artists by: Empowering the practice of Teaching Artists' as a profession; Providing a network for communication and the exchange of resources; Shaping the field of Arts in Education; Providing advocacy, training, and professional development; Publicly recognizing distinguished achievement."
  • Community Arts Network
  • Empire State Partnerships
    Their website says ESP "is dedicated to identifying, developing and nurturing promising practices in arts education through support of long-term collaborations between cultural organizations and schools. The project focuses on student achievement of the New York State Learning Standards and contributing to the improvement of teaching and learning in New York State schools."
  • Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency
    Their website says, "The Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency provides innovative and responsive educational services to educators and learners through leadership, collaboration, and support."
  • National Art Education Association
  • National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
  • Teachers & Writers Collaborative
  • Teaching Artists Organized
    Their website says, "TAO is a consortium of Bay Area organizations working together to enhance the professional development of teaching artists in schools and communities."
  • The Academy of American Poets
    The AAP's website has links to essays, poets, poems, discussion forums, fellowship & grant leads, poetry events nationwide, lesson plan & curriculum ideas, and more.

Legal Assistance for Teaching Artists

  • Lawyers for the Creative Arts
    Their website says, "Lawyers for the Creative Arts is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, which provides pro bono legal services to qualifying individuals and organizations in the arts, including the visual, literary and performing arts, and provides educational programs as well." LCA is located at 213 West Institute Place, Suite 403 Chicago, Illinois 60610, and their phone number is 312.649.4111.
  • Starving Artists Law website
    Their website says, "StarvingArtistsLaw.com is the launch pad for artists and writers looking for self help legal information."

Funding & Financial Services

Performance Venues in the Chicago Area

  • Elastic Arts Foundation
    EAF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit arts organization that produces arts events.
  • HotHouse
    HotHouse is located at 31 E. Balbo, Chicago, IL 60605, and their phone number is 312.362.9707.
  • Links Hall
    Links Hall is located at 3435 N. Sheffield, 2nd floor Chicago, IL 60657, and their phone number is 773.281.0824. Their website says, "Links Hall is a community workspace serving Chicago artists, with affordable rental rates for practice and performance. Links Hall presents Chicago and Visiting artists through our Performance Series."
  • Majestic Midway
  • SpareRoom
    SpareRoom is located at 2416 W. North Ave. in Chicago. Their website says, "SpareRoom is a time-arts cooperative. Our members make artwork that crosses disciplines and takes risks. Our space gives a community of artists the opportunity to rehearse, perform, exhibit, and develop work on their own terms."
  • The Candlestick Maker
    The Candlestick Maker is located at 4432 N. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago, and the phone number is 773.463.0158. Its website says it is a venue that hosts "intimate concerts of experimental, free jazz, electronic, and other forms of creative, forward-thinking music take place on a regular basis."
  • The Three Arts Club of Chicago
    The Three Arts Club has a wonderful performance series, and the 3Arts Gallery has ongoing art shows. TAC is located at 1300 North Dearborn Parkway, Chicago, Illinois 60610, and their phone number is 312.944.6250.

Local Organizations That Employ Teaching Artists

Upcoming Events

  • CTAC's March event
    Sharon Hyson, Art Therapist / Educator / Artist, and Founder, Art for Life, leads this month's monthly gathering of the Chicago Teaching Artists Collective. The Chicago Teaching Artists Collective (CTAC) hosts a monthly series of discussions about arts education, the teaching artist field, and community engagement through the arts. You are invited to CTAC's March event. Come for a presentation, a discussion, and an experiential part! Health Care for the Mind and Body For Artists and the Self-Employed Part 1 (of a 2 part program) will be held on Thursday, March 16, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Lake Side Cafe, 1418 West Howard Street at Sheridan, in Rogers Park, Chicago. Presenters include: Sharon Hyson, Art Therapist / Educator / Artist, and Founder, Art for Life. (sharonhyson@hotmail.com, 312-409-3258). Sharon creates art therapy programs and facilitates art workshops for all ages and all populations, in healthcare, educational, and recreational settings. She has created and developed art programs in shelters, psychiatric facilities, family camps, elder camps, senior facilities, camps, schools, special education programs, jails, rehabilitation hospitals, and community organizations. She makes the arts accessible and has presented widely at conferences. Sharon will lead an experiential workshop, "Art from the Inside / Art for Self - Empowerment," in which she uses the Visual Arts as a tool for wholeness, wellness, stress reduction and growth. She will speak on why adding the arts enhances one's state of health and why all elected officials should have an art therapist available and on their team to offer art programs which will aid in increasing the well being and mental health of the people in their community. Amona Buechler, owner of the Lake Side Cafe, which has vegetarian, vegan and organic cuisine, will speak on Inner and Outer wellness, well being, and health. The restaurant and her massagetable business represents the "Outer" well being, and the non for profit I.M.U. (Inner Metamorphosis University, which is on the same premise as the restaurant, represents the "Inner" well being. She will also speak about the art of sharing creativity and passion, as it relates to the things she offers. Arlene Rakoncay is a founding member of the Chicago Artists' Coalition; a 31 year old service organization for visual artists. She recently retired after almost 28 years as the Executive Director. Arlene will discuss CAC's current insurance plans and other insurance alternatives as well as the state of health insurance for self-employed people. Lew Rosenbaum has been involved in the battle for decent health care for 40 years, a bookseller for 30 years, board member of Guild complex, and director of the Chicago Labor and Arts Festival, now in its 10th year. Lew says, "In the 40 years since I became involved in the battle for decent health care I've seen two things happen. First, an increasing corporate stranglehold in health care delivery and insurance has turned our country into the laughingstock of the industrialized world. Second, technological changes have transformed all corners of our society to make it possible to guarantee every man, woman and child high quality care. Under these conditions, it is criminal for artists to have to hold benefits to pay for basic care for colleagues who can't get minimal insurance. I'll talk about why universal health care is not only necessary but possible, and why denial of health care today is tantamount to murder." The program itself is free and open to the public. Come hungry and buy yourself a delicious dinner, appetizer or dessert! For further information about this event, contact Sharon Hyson, organizer of tonight's program. Contact her at sharonhyson@hotmail.com or at 312-409-3258.

Contact

Biography

Our mission statement:

The CTAC is a network of artists from all disciplines working together to build the field of the artist as teacher on local, national, and global levels.

The CTAC is equally interested in the material as well as the aesthetic concerns of the Teaching Artist; and living a functional lifestyle as well as pursuing the pedagogical, philosophical, spiritual, and social implications of our work.

Interests

teaching artists, Chicago, arts integration, arts education