A Certification Program for Artists Wishing to Expand Their Careers

In all aspects of education, there is increasing interest in “whole-brain” learning — learning that is proven to be highly effective when delivered through the arts. Over the past decade, neuroscientists have learned much about the developing brain. As part of The Royal Conservatory, Learning Through the Arts® (LTTA) has been developing its arts-based integrative learning methodology since 1994. Due to our consistent framework and focus on artist training and teacher professional development, we are now seen to be at the leading edge of integrative learning worldwide. LTTA has grown to become one of the most extensive arts-based public school initiatives globally.

This certification is in response to the need for consistent training of artist-educators. We anticipate there will continue to be an expanding need for artists at all levels in schools across Canada and, increasingly, in international and corporate settings as well as social service agencies. The three-level artist training program is designed to provide community artists with:

• Relevant learning modules
• Consistent standards of delivery
• Highly skilled facilitators
• Practical tools for artists
• A sequence of clear levels of achievement in building skills and experiences
• Opportunities for reflection and growth

What is the Opportunity for Artists?
Standards
Curriculum Modules for Artist Certification Program
Artist Success
Course Descriptions and Modules
     Artist-Educator Foundations Course
     Le cours Perfectionnement de l’artiste éducateur
     Level I – Artist-Educator
     Level II – Lead Artist
     Level III – Mentor Artist
Frequently Asked Questions
Application and Registration Procedures
Course Admission
 

What is the Opportunity for Artists?
Working in classrooms, social service agencies, and other institutions requires a special kind of multifaceted person who is proficient in one or many art forms but who also possesses many other skills and qualities such as compassion, patience, creativity, ability to communicate effectively, and the desire to learn and apply important educational and community concepts to what they already know about their art form.

The purpose of this training program is to help artists develop advanced educational skills, such as creative problem solving, knowledge of curriculum, and an understanding of child development, in a systematic fashion. Certification is an opportunity for interested artists wishing to deepen and strengthen their practice.

Courses offered as part of the Artist-Educator Professional Training:
• Foundations Course (Ontario-wide) – sponsored by the Ontario Arts Council (not a prerequisite for Level I)
• Level I – Artist-Educator
• Level II – Lead Artist
• Level III – Mentor Artist

Standards
All artists participating in these courses are expected to continue to develop professionally by attending all sessions, submitting expected lesson plans and papers, and continuing their work in the classroom or community as well as practicing their art form.

Curriculum Modules for Artist Certification Program
The curriculum for each certification level is divided into various strands — Program Orientation, Program Planning and Delivery, Marketing, and Public Relations — which increase in complexity and depth at each level, enabling artists to build substantively on their skills, if they choose to continue through the levels.

Artist Success
The intended outcome of this training is to provide artists with the prerequisite skills to successfully implement the certification program. Artist evaluation will include:
• Successful completion of the training modules
• Lesson plan reviews
• Classroom observations
• Leadership observations
• Teacher and school feedback
• Self-reflection
• Performance review

Course Descriptions and Modules

Artist-Educator Foundations Course Français

The Royal Conservatory, with the support of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), is pleased to offer the Artist-Educator Foundations Course for artists who are already engaged in arts education, and for those who would like to learn more about arts education. This 30-hour course offers artists a window into working in schools and/or in community settings through hands-on, activity-based exploration.

Each class of the Artist-Educator Foundations Course is a structured exploration of a module using fun, hands-on arts-infused learning.  Each lesson, once delivered, is deconstructed to ensure understanding of the teaching tactics and arts-based techniques.  The course combines educational content and theory with a creative “laboratory” environment – artists are given supported activities though which they experiment with applying their arts discipline in educational and community contexts.  During class presentations, artists will participate as a “student” learner and as a “facilitator”.  The course includes modules on how people learn at different stages of life, partnering in the classroom, and how to develop and structure arts-based lessons that are effective and engaging for learners.  All our Foundations courses offered throughout Ontario are facilitated by expert leaders who are both working artists and experienced educators.

Course Modules

• Understanding School Culture & Teacher Culture
• Engaging Effective Partnering with Teachers or Coordinators (Foundations Level)
• Engaging Effective Classroom Management (Foundations Level)
• Understanding Ages and Stages of Development (Foundations Level)
• Exploring Multiple Intelligences Theory
• Understanding The Arts Curriculum (Foundations Level)
• Preparing and Planning Lessons (Foundations Level)
• Understanding OAC’s Arts Education and Community Arts Grants through Your Creative Process

Follow-up Webinar: The follow-up webinar is an opportunity for participants to learn more about the OAC application process. The webinar will also provide time for participants to ask questions of the OAC arts education and community arts officers about their programs.

The Ontario Arts Council is sponsoring this course so that Ontario artists can enroll at a registration fee of $60.

Course locations, dates, times, instructors and registration procedures are listed below.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS – Feb 6, 2012

 

City	Language of Instruction	Dates	Times	OAC follow up session (online webinar)	Locations	Instructors
Sault Ste. Marie	English	Mar 2, 3, 4, Mar 23, 24, 25 (2012)	Fridays 4 – 8pm Saturdays 9am – 4pm Sundays 9am – 3pm	June 28, 2012 6:30-8:00 pm EST	Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology 443 Northern Ave. Sault Ste. Marie	Nicole Fougere Andrea Piller
Toronto	English	Mar 30, 31, Apr 1, Apr 13, 14, 15 (2012)	Fridays 6 – 9pm Saturdays 9am – 4pm Sundays 9am – 4pm	June 28, 2012 6:30-8:00 pm EST	RCM Telus Centre 273 Bloor St. W. Toronto	Laurie Pye Ciara Adams
Oakville	French	Mar 30, 31, Apr 1, Apr 13, 14, 15 (2012)	Fridays 4 – 8pm Saturdays 9am – 4pm Sundays 9am – 3pm	June 28, 2012 6:30-8:00 pm EST	Oakville Galleries 1306 Lakeshore Road Oakville	Nicole Fougere Paula Wing
Kenora	English	Apr 20, 21, 22, Apr 27, 28, 29 (2012)	Fridays 6 – 9pm Saturdays 9am – 4pm Sundays 9am – 4pm	June 28, 2012 5:30-7:00 pm CST	Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre 931 Lakeview Dr. Kenora	Crystal Nielsen Paula Wing
Ottawa	English	Apr 20, 21, 22, May 11, 12, 13 (2012)	Fridays 6 – 9pm Saturdays 9am – 4pm Sundays 9am – 4pm	June 28, 2012 6:30-8:00 pm EST	Arts Court 2 Daly Ave. Ottawa	Cathy Miyata Michelle Silagy
Barrie	English	Apr 27, 28, 29, May 11, 12, 13 (2012)	Fridays 6 – 10pm Saturdays 9am – 4pm Sundays 9am – 3pm	June 28, 2012 6:30-8:00 pm EST	Dept. of Culture 24 Maple Ave, 2nd floor, Barrie	Laurie Pye Sara Dickinson
Sarnia	English	Apr 27, 28, 29, May 11, 12, 13 (2012)	Fridays 6 – 9pm Saturdays 9:30am – 4:30pm Sundays 9:30am – 4:30pm	June 28, 2012 6:30-8:00 pm EST	Lawrence House Centre For The Arts 127 Christina Street S, Sarnia	Karen McClellan Matthew Romain

 

Registration Procedure

• All artists must complete an application form to register via this link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AEFoundations2012eng
• For the French language course in Oakville – please complete the application form via this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AEFoundations2012fr
• Please note that individuals who have participated in other Ontario Arts Council, Royal Conservatory, or Learning Through the Arts Artist-Educator training programs are not eligible to apply.
• Deadline for Applications – Feb 6, 2012
• The registration office at The Royal Conservatory will notify all applicants prior to the course start date to let the applicant know whether they have been admitted to the course.
• Registration will then proceed upon receipt of the $60 fee.

For questions related to
the Ontario Arts Council, please contact:

General Inquiries
Ontario Arts Council
416-961-1660
1-800-387-0058
info@arts.on.ca
 

Level I – Artist-Educator
The Artist-Educator Professional Training is for artists who wish to learn more about arts education or who may already be engaged in arts education but would like to learn more about the culture they work in. Through this course, artists learn to work in schools and/or in community settings and blend educational content and theory within a creative, arts-infused, “laboratory” environment. Artists experiment with applying their arts practice in various settings. Modules will be presented on subjects such as school and teacher culture, arts curriculum, how people learn at different stages of life, and how to develop and structure arts-based lessons that are effective and engaging for learners. Participants can expect to come out of this level with concrete skills they can utilize, bringing their art form to work with children and youth in various settings.

A certified Level I artist is a highly effective communicator capable of developing meaningful relationships with teachers and “exemplary practice” lesson plans in partnership with teachers. The artist-educator is motivated to making a contribution to youth and teachers, and is willing to learn about school culture.

Level I certification prepares you for:
• Working in elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools as well as in community settings
• Working with core curriculum such as math and language arts
• Developing meaningful and relevant lesson plans
• Effective communication with students, teachers, and staff
• Development of solid partnerships with educational or community partners
• Making appropriate programming choices for a variety of ages, stages, and abilities

Course modules:
• School Culture and Teacher Culture
• Merging Teacher and Artist Culture
• Partnering in the Classroom (planning and partnering with a teacher)
• Classroom Management, Teaching Tactics, and Strategies
• Ages and Stages
• Learning Theories (including Multiple Intelligences)
• Arts Curriculum
• Social Studies, Science, and Math Curriculum
• Literacy Curriculum
• Working with Community and Social Service Organizations
• Lesson Planning
• Regional/Cultural Sensitivities

Prerequisite for Level I:
• Must be a professional working artist. A professional artist is defined as someone who has basic training (formal or informal) or is self-taught in their fields, spends a significant amount of time practicing their art, and seeks payment for their work.

Details:
• 30 hours of training
• Fall and Winter sessions
• $600

Level II – Lead Artist
The Level II course continues the learning of Level I, deepening the artist’s ability to work in schools and community settings. This course leads to the designation of Lead Artist. The course offers the Level II modules of the three-level certification course. The Lead Artist certification course blends a sequential approach to core educational content and theory with a creative “laboratory” environment in which artists can experiment with applying their art forms to the delivery of interesting projects. The course focuses on topics such as how people learn at different stages of life, adult education, understanding the brain, and how to develop and structure arts-based lessons that are effective and engaging for learners, including adult learners, as well as marketing yourself and your projects. Participants in this course should feel comfortable approaching potential programs on their own, and will have a deeper understanding of how to approach potential partners to pitch their projects.

A certified Level II artist is preparing for a leadership role. In addition to working in classrooms, these artists are also capable of delivering a variety of adult workshops to teachers, artists, parents, administrators, and the community.

Level II certification prepares you to:
• Deliver workshops to teachers, school administrators, and staff in a community setting
• Deliver demonstrations to funders, media, or other audiences
• Deliver workshops for other artists
• Present to parent and community groups

Course modules:
• School Culture and Programming
• Administrative and Organizational Structure
• Partnering
• Regional and Cultural Sensitivities
• The Art of Questioning
• Checking for Understanding
• Rubrics and Assessment
• Understanding the Brain (current brain research and the arts)
• Media Literacy
• Adult Learning
• Workshops for Adults
• Parent and Community Presentations
• Marketing and Communications (pitching your projects and creating PowerPoint presentations)

Prerequisites for Level II:
• Must be a professional working artist. A professional artist is defined as someone who has basic training (formal or informal) or is self taught in their fields, spends a significant amount of time practicing their art, and seeks payment for their work.
• Must have completed Artist-Educator Professional Training – Level I (minimum of 70 percent in all course elements)
• Permission from the course director

Details:
• 30 hours of training
• Fall and Winter sessions
• $600

Level III - Mentor Artist
Become a leader in the emerging field of integrative education. Building on the core learning of the Lead Artist certification, this intensive course leads to certification as a Royal Conservatory Mentor Artist. A mentor artist can play a significant role in contributing to the training of other artists and has the capacity to work with a wide range of organizations at a very high level. This is a true community leadership course. The mentor artist training explores such topics as coaching, leadership communication, presentations, project design and evaluation, and applying your skills to national and international settings. The course evaluation includes a practicum component and submission of an individual paper or research project. It can only be taken after time to practice and integrate the learning of Levels I and II has occurred.

A certified Level III artist plays a significant role in contributing to the training of other artists and has the capacity to work with a wide range of organizations. As a senior ambassador for the arts and education, they represent at conferences and events and make presentations to corporations, governments, and other potential funders. A mentor artist expands their skills to work with nongovernmental organizations and social service agencies and contribute to arts and education on the international stage.

Level III certification prepares you to:
• Work in collaboration with local organizations to support them in their objectives.
• Work with and for regional organizations.
• Present and work worldwide.

Course modules:
• Communication Styles and Skills
• Presenting in a Variety of Contexts
• Coaching, Evaluation, and Feedback
• Program Planning and Delivery
• Artist Professional Development
• Teacher Professional Development
• Global Perspectives
• Specialized Training
• Fundraising
• Government Relations
• Administrative and Organizational Procedures
• Technology Skills
• Preparing for Tradeshows and Conferences
• Resume, Bios, and Portfolios

Prerequisites for Level III:
•  Artist-Educator Professional Training – Level II (minimum of 70 percent in all course elements)
•  Minimum of 75 hours of teaching or facilitation in a school or social service organization (within the last three years)
•  Letter of recommendation (from a teacher, principal, or other facilitator you have worked with)
•  Permission from the course director

Details:
• 60 hours of training
• 75 additional practicum hours (with supervision)
• Summer session
• $925

Download the Level III application form.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am a teacher who is familiar with the arts. Can I still take the course?

These courses are for working artists who are interested in working in educational or community and social service settings. They are not designed for teachers, although an exception may be made for artists with teacher training who are not teaching in a classroom.

2. How does the Foundations course compare to Level I, since the Foundations course is not a prerequisite for Level I?

The Foundations course is an introductory course and is not a prerequisite for Level I. It is a stand-alone course sponsored by the Ontario Arts Council. It gives an opportunity to ”dip into” the world of the artist-educator and to learn from an expert facilitator.

3. Are these Royal Conservatory courses or Ontario Arts Council courses?

All of these courses are created and run by The Royal Conservatory. The Ontario Arts Council is a sponsor for the Foundations course only. They have offered advice and guidelines in reference to the content and delivery of the Foundations course.

4. What are the differences between all four courses? What are the main areas of focus for each course?

See the descriptions for each level for details and course modules. The Foundations course is an introduction. The three other levels build upon each other and together create a truly comprehensive exploration of the skills needed to be an expert in the field of arts and education.

5. What exactly will I get once I complete all three levels?

You will have full certification from The Royal Conservatory. You will receive a certificate and be invited to attend Convocation, the graduation ceremony held by The Royal Conservatory.

6. Is the certification recognized in the community?

Yes. The Royal Conservatory is an internationally recognized institution.

7. What are the job prospects once I have completed?

You are taking a certification course from an internationally recognized institution, with the support and recognition of the Ontario Arts Council, which is a big advantage. You are also receiving training in presentation skills, marketing your projects, accessing granting bodies, etc. Having said that, as artists we work for ourselves. The goal of the program is to empower the artists who participate in it.

8. What are some examples of what people can do with this training?

This training will help artists to work in schools and community and social service agencies such as mental health facilities, shelters, or youth centres. You can also apply to existing arts-based programs and work for them, or create your own projects. Those who have completed Level III may find opportunities to work abroad, and to train other artists.

Application and Registration Procedures

Artist-Educator Foundations Course

For the 2012 registration procedures, please click here.

Le cours Perfectionnement de l’artiste éducateur 

Inscription et information disponibles ici.

Artist-Educator Professional Training – Level I
All applicants must register through Registration and Student Services.

Registrants must provide a brief description of their experience to illustrate how their skills and experience meet the prerequisite. The information provided will then be submitted to the instructor for confirmation.

Prerequisite:

• Must be a professional working artist. A professional artist is defined as someone who has basic training (formal or informal) or are self taught in their fields, spends a significant amount of time practicing their art, and seeks payment for their work.

Artist-Educator Professional Training – Level II
All applicants must register through Registration and Student Services.

Prerequisites:
• Must have completed Artist-Educator Professional Training – Level I (minimum of 70 percent in all course elements)
• Permission from the course director

Artist-Educator Professional Training – Level III
All applicants must register through Registration and Student Services.

Registrants must complete an application form. Download it here.

Also required is a letter of recommendation from a teacher, principal, or other facilitator you have worked with.

Prerequisites:
• Must have completed Artist-Educator Professional Training – Level II (minimum of 70 percent in all course elements)
• Minimum of 75 hours of teaching or facilitation in a school or social service organization (within the last three years)
• Permission from the course director

Course Admission

The course director reviews all applications for admission into Level I, II, and III.

Advanced Standing or Equivalent
Please note that we do not accept any advance standing or equivalent experience for Level I. All applicants must start with Level I to move on to Level II. It is not necessary to take the Foundations course in order to get into Level I.

Certificate Requirements
In order to receive final certification, students must complete all required assignments and practicum hours as well as receive a minimum of 70 percent in all course elements for all three levels of training.

Funding
Applicants may be eligible for an Access and Career Development grant through the Ontario Arts Council. The annual deadline is in early May. Click here for more information. Other grants available through the Ontario Arts Council can be found here.

For questions related to Royal Conservatory courses, please contact:
Phone: 416.408.2825 / 1.888.408.2825
Email: conservatoryschool@rcmusic.ca

For questions related to the Ontario Arts Council, please contact:
General Inquiries
Phone: 416.961.1660 / 1.800.387.0058
Email: info@arts.on.ca