The Teaching Artist Learning Lab (TALL) is Gateway's new professional development initiative aiming to empower teaching artists, whether emerging or experienced, to explore, observe, experiment with and evaluate best practices in arts education. Gateway is currently accepting applications from teaching artists seeking to participate in the program.

In late summer of 2012, a cohort of six to ten teaching artists will join Gateway staff and several mentor teaching artists in learning lab activities. Over the following eight months, the teaching artists will spend a approximately 45 hours together experiencing hands-on professional development curriculum with the goal of fully preparing them to create and implement an in-school residency in partnership with a classroom teacher. One of the objectives of the lab work is to develop a working knowledge of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS - http://www.corestandards.org/) so that artists may use these as a focal point for creating original arts integrated residencies that will resonate with educators and foster student achievement in English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as in the arts.

This program is generously funded by the Henry C. Frick Education Fund and the Buhl Foundation.

Gateway to the Arts is currently accepting applications from teaching artists. Lab teaching artists may earn an honorarium of up to $1,550 in monthly installments based upon program participation each month. Applications are due June 25, 2012.