COMPAS Call for Teaching Artists
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COMPAS is seeking teaching artists to join our roster. For 50 years we have been creating arts learning and experiences with community partners through performances, workshops, residencies, professional development, and more. Programs take place throughout the State of Minnesota during school hours, after school, during the evening and on weekends. Locations include schools, libraries, older adult living communities, parks and rec centers, youth program sites and other community settings. We consider ourselves matchmakers, bringing artists and partners together, to create impactful and inspiring experiences.
Artists selected to join the roster join a community of other teaching artists and have access to benefits such as admin support, insurance, professional development, and more.
While this an open call for all artists, we have a special need for the following:
- Digital artists (digital art/illustration, graphic design, animation, etc.)
- Electronic Media (photography, video, animation, etc.)
- Visual artists
- Literary artists
- Spoken Word artists
- Artists interested in K-12 classroom settings and out of school programs for youth
- Artists interested and experienced working with people with disabilities
- Artists interested and experienced working with older adults living in assisted living and/or memory care
Desired Qualifications
While we are open to a wide variety of artistic approaches and backgrounds, artists (including magicians!) with the following criteria have a higher chance of being interviewed:
- A Demonstrated dedication to an artistic practice
- Prior teaching artist experience (ideally 2-5+ years)
- Ability to fill a gap on the COMPAS roster
- Demonstrated ability to model, breakdown, explain, and customize projects within their artform
We encourage people who identify as Native, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities to apply. We also encourage artists living in greater Minnesota, beyond the metro area, to apply.
Application Process Described
Teaching Artist applicants must include a cover letter, resume, work samples, work sample descriptions, and a sample lesson plan to be considered.
Once an artist has submitted the required information, the process consists of an initial round of consideration by COMPAS program staff, followed by finalists having a face-to-face interview with our Arts Advisory Committee consisting of community partners, artists, students, and COMPAS staff. The interview includes the teaching artists leading the panel through a 10-minute demonstration of an art activity, preferably from the lesson plan they submitted with their application.
Teaching Artists selected to join the roster attend a New Artist Orientation, COMPAS’ Annual Teaching Artist Meeting, and individual training meetings with COMPAS staff, as needed (August – September 2025).
Hiring Timeline
Application Deadline: June 15, 11:59 PM
Mid-July: Notifications of Interviews
Early August: Artist Interview/Panel Review
Mid-August: Acceptance Notifications
Questions about being a teaching artist with COMPAS and requests for application accommodations may be emailed to jes@compas.org.