DURING THE CURRENT CONDITIONS THE MCAD 2020 TEACHING ARTIST PRACTICUM STUDENTS HAVE CONTINUED THEIR WORK WITH PARTNERS PROVIDING ONLINE LEARNING ARTS AND ARTS INTEGRATED LESSON PLANS AND DEMOS. MCAD IS PROUD OF THE RESILIENCY AND COMMITMENT OF OUR STUDENTS TO OUR LARGER COMMUNITIES AS THEY HAVE DISPERSED ACROSS THE NATION. THANK YOU PARTNERS FOR INCLUDING US IN YOUR WORK.

MCAD TEACHING ARTIST MINOR

“A teaching artist is a practicing professional artist or designer with skills of an educator, who can effectively engage a wide range of people in learning experiences in and through the arts.”

The Minneapolis College of Art and Design Teaching Artist minor provides MCAD students the opportunity to develop meaningful connections between their studio art and design practice and teaching artist work in educational and community settings. Coursework engages students in reflective teaching practices, research and application of learning theory, best practices in an arts learning environments and participation in arts education organizations where they gain hands-on experience through guided placements. MCAD students who earn a Teaching Artist minor are prepared to work as teaching artists in schools, community arts settings, after school programs, museum education, nonprofit arts organizations and much more.

TEACHING ARTIST PRACTICUM

After the completion of the Teaching Artist Theory and Methods, students are involved in classroom observation, interaction, and visual arts teaching experiences. Collaborating with paired mentors and supervised by the Teaching Artist minor coordinator, students participate in two visual art residencies and shadow a teaching artist in a teaching residency. In addition to on-site observation and teaching, students reflect on teaching experience, create lessons and assessments, budget lessons, and develop presentation packets required for residencies applications. The minor is supported by undergraduate requirements and the minor’s required coursework which include: a Nonwestern Art History, Introduction to Psychology, Art in Community, Teaching Artist Theory and Methods, Teaching Artist Practicum and an Internship or an elective outside of their major.

For course descriptions and requirements see the MCAD website.

Teaching Artist Coordinator

Aki Shibata

Aki Shibata is a behavioral artist, educator, facilitator and community organizer from Tokyo, Japan, now based in Minnesota. She received her BFA in photography in 2008 and a MA in teaching and instruction in 2017. In her artistic work she develops intersections for people in public spaces to discover their authentic selves and to nurture compassion for all. Her work is about finding a sense of belonging and finding ways to let people meet their inner peace.  Her artistic practice involves the examination of body and mind in public and gallery spaces through exploring the behavior of human interaction and notions of performance. She currently teaches visual art and participatory art in schools throughout the Twin Cities and facilitates IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access in Leadership) training with Science Museum of Minnesota. In 2017 she founded Primary School of Behavioral Art, where people come together to learn from each other and to work together to bring liberation for all through art. Her artistic awards include grants from the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, the F.R. Bigelow Foundation, a Creative City Challenge grant, a Groundwork BIPOC public art fellowship, and many others. Aki has worked as an arts instructor and guest lecturer for over twelve years, at institutions such as The Minnesota Center for Book Arts, The Perpich Center for Arts Education, The University of Minnesota, Macalester College, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Metro State University, Joshibi College of Art and Design in Tokyo, Japan, and Bangkok university in Thailand. 

Aki Shibata cv

Lynda Monick-Isenberg, Professor Emeritus Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2020

Lynda Monick-Isenberg envisioned, created and began the Teaching Artist Minor for MCAD in 2013. Monick-Isenberg oversaw the minor, guiding over 120 students in the practice and life of the teaching artist, placing and overseeing teaching artist student work in community in 250+ community placements in K-12 schools, adult communities, after school programming, community partnerships, museums and organizations that support learners of all ages with challenges from 2013-2020. She was instrumental in inviting Aki Shibata to participate in and eventually take over her position at the College. She is inspired by Aki Shibata as they continues to build out this legacy for our students and communities.

TEACHING ARTIST PRACTICUM WEBSITE

This website is managed by the MCAD Teaching Artist Coordinator and the majority of its content provided by the current class of Teaching Artist Practicum students.  It contains a class blog with weekly observation journal entries and lesson plans with images of student work.