Arts Resources for Teachers and Schools is a searchable database created by the Kentucky Arts Council as a component of the Arts Toolkit. The Arts Toolkit is the prototype for a dynamic and powerful arts and humanities toolkit that will be available to teachers across Kentucky and is built from the Kentucky Core Content, Program of Studies and Academic Expectations.

Artists and arts organizations found in the Arts Resources for Teachers and Schools are self-selected and self-evaluated. Inclusion in this list does not necessarily reflect a certification or adjudicated process by the Arts Council for serving in the schools.

Artists and arts organizations that would like to be included in Arts Resources for Teachers and Schools may sign up at artscouncil.ky.gov/forms/toolkitinfo.htm.


LAST NAME/ORGANIZATION
This directory is searchable by artist last name or the name of the organization for quick information reference.

KDE SERVICE REGION
It is also searchable by each of the 8 Kentucky Department of Education service regions and a statewide category. Artists are listed by the region in which they live, however they may be amenable to work in schools in other regions. The same criteria is true for arts organizations. Arts organizations listed in the statewide category have a statewide mission. These organizations will not be found in the specific KDE region they are located. Artists listed in the statewide category usually reside outside of Kentucky.

ARTS DISCIPLINE
Artists and arts organizations may be found in more than one arts discipline according to how they have identified themselves. The following is a list of the arts discipline categories available and a brief description of what those disciplines can encompass. Once you have completed your search, specialty areas within each discipline will appear for each entry found. For example, DISCIPLINE: Craft / SPECIALTY AREA: Quilting.

Craft
Craft artists may identify themselves by the medium they work in which would include clay, fiber, leather, metal, mixed media, wood, and other materials. They may also identify themselves by the product they create or the technique they use such as quilting, wood turning, etc.

Dance
Areas of dance might include ballet, modern, folk, tap, jazz, social, ethnic, etc.

Folk
Folk artists are unique because their individual artistic visions reflect the traditional, regional, and community art forms of groups to which they belong. Folk artists may be quilters, storytellers, fiddlers, wood carvers, etc. Inviting these artists to your classroom will result in a broad learning experience that includes art, community, culture and history. Presenting folk artists in context requires special preparation, so take time to familiarize yourself with the art form and the artist's background. For more information on presenting folk artists visit www.kyfolklife.org for the Teacher's Guide to Kentucky Folklife. Folklorists may also be found in the FOLK discipline. Folklorists may lead classes in different areas of folklife fieldwork including surveys to identify local traditional artists, collecting oral histories, etc.

Literary
This could encompass any areas of the written word including poetry, fiction, playwriting, creative non-fiction, etc.

Media
These art forms are generally linked to mass communications such as film, video, computer animation, web design, radio, etc.

Music
This is a very broad discipline that can include traditional/folk, jazz, classical, world, contemporary, instrumental and choral, songwriting and composition.

Storytelling
Artists working in this discipline can also be found in FOLK and THEATRE.

Theatre
Areas of study might include acting, mime, scene study, improvisation, puppetry, etc.

Visual
Examples of visual arts include painting (oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.) murals, collage, printmaking, collage, sculpture, photography, graphic design, ceramics, fiber arts, papermaking, etc.

There are five levels of expertise. The first four are reserved for artists who have evaluated themselves and chosen which category best describes their work as an artist in a classroom or a school. The fifth category is reserved for arts organizations, museums, and performing arts centers.

1. Presenting Artist Performs/exhibits/demonstrates for students and teachers [does not engage students in interactive learning experiences].
2. Interacting Artist Performs/exhibits/demonstrates for students and teachers with some interaction with students from the perspective of the arts; Engages students in pre- or post-presentation discussion.
3. Collaborating Artist May perform/exhibit/demonstrate for students and teachers; May engage in pre- or post-presentation discussion; Conducts residencies in schools; Plans collaboratively with classroom teachers.
4. Master Instructional Artist May perform/exhibit/demonstrate for students and teachers; May engage in pre- or post- presentation discussions; Conducts residencies in schools; Plans collaboratively with classroom teachers; Participates in curriculum planning; Functions as a leader in program design and development; May act as mentor to other artists working in education.

Communication is the key to a successful artist visit or residency. When you contact an artist, be prepared to discuss the following:

• Goals of the program, project or residency-- What should students know and/or be able to do as a result of the visit or project.
• The grade level and special characteristics of the participating students.
• The focus of the visit-- Is it to teach a specific art form or to connect to other curriculum areas through this art discipline?
• Duration of the visit, project, program, or residency.
• Logistics of the visit-- Is it during school, after school, or in the evening? Will there be one or multiple sessions? What size audience or audiences are likely? Will there be additional training workshops for teachers?
• Time required for each component of the presentation.
• The artist's space requirements and set-up needs.
• The artist's fee schedule.
• Travel and lodging arrangements, if necessary.
• List of required materials and supplies, including projected cost of items that must be specially ordered.
• How you can assist with the project.
• The artist's responsibilities to the on-site coordinator, and you and your school's responsibilities to the artist.