Introduction

The Creative Advantage is a partnership between the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (OAC) and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to increase student access to arts learning.

The Community Arts Partner Roster is a list of teaching artists and community arts and culture organizations approved to work in SPS and receive compensation through The Creative Advantage. The Roster is maintained by OAC as a resource for schools seeking partners to help them meet their arts education equity goals. 

Community Arts Partners collaborate with schools to provide integrated and/or cultural arts residencies for students and/or professional development for teachers. You can apply to lead student arts residencies, teacher professional development, or both.

The Roster opens for 2027 on November 2, 2026, and will stay open through September 30, 2027, for teaching artists, community arts organizations, and cultural institutions to apply. Applications will be vetted and approved by Creative Advantage Advisors through a panel process three times annually (March, June, and October). Roster Advisors are SPS teacher leaders and current Roster partners.

Deadlines for 2027 Submissions:

• Applications submitted between 11/2/2026 and 2/28/2027 by 5 PM (PT) will be reviewed during the March review cycle.
• Applications submitted between 3/1/2027 and 5/31/2027 by 5 PM (PT) will be reviewed during the June review cycle.
• Applications submitted between 6/1/2027 and 9/30/2027 by 5 PM (PT) will be reviewed during the October review cycle.

Eligibility

Open to teaching artists, community arts organizations, and cultural institutions serving students, teachers, and schools in Seattle with three (3) or more years of teaching experience. You must be over the age of 18.

The Creative Advantage works in collaboration with the SPS Native Education Department. If you are a tribal elder who wants to bring your artistry and experience to The Creative Advantage, you do not need to complete this application. Please contact Tina LaPadula at tina.lapadula@seattle.gov.   

If you are a non-tribal elder culture bearer who is thinking about applying, please contact Tina LaPadula to discuss if this application is required. 

Application Components

All applications must be submitted online through Submittable.

Documents to Submit

You will upload documentation of your work as a teaching artist or arts organization: 

• Individual artist biography or organizational history and teaching artist biographies
• Sample lesson plan(s) or class outline(s)
• Work samples
• Professional development plan (if applicable)

Narrative Questions

 You will complete questions that provide information on the following: 

• Teaching philosophy and approach
• Equity and access
• Culturally responsive strategies
• 21st century skills development
• Lesson plan development
• Teacher collaboration

Review Criteria

Applications for Student Art Residencies will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Approach and Collaboration: Clear approach and experience teaching art to young people.
• Equity and Access: Experience and skills working with participants of diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Experience working with communities experiencing oppression and inclusion of culturally responsive teaching practices. 
• 21st Century Skills: Ability to articulate clear arts learning objectives that include one or more 21st century skills (creative and critical thinking, communication, collaboration, perseverance, and growth-mindset).   
• Lesson Planning: Ability to develop a basic class plan or outline.
• Integrated and Cultural Arts: Experience teaching effective integrated arts and/or cultural arts to young people.
• Work Samples: Demonstrate your abilities, experience, and/or achievements as a teaching artist or teaching artist organization.

Applications for Professional Development for Teachers will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Approach and Collaboration: Clear approach and experience leading teacher professional development. 
• Equity and Access: Experience and skills working with participants of diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Experience working with communities experiencing oppression and inclusion of culturally responsive teaching practices.
• 21st Century Skills: Activities that support teachers to foster 21st century skills with students in the classroom (creative and critical thinking, communication, collaboration, perseverance, and growth-mindset).
• Professional Development Planning: Ability to articulate clear arts learning objectives for adult learners. 
• Integrated Arts: Ability to develop a professional development plan for teachers in integrating the arts.
• Work Samples: Ability to evaluate/assess and demonstrate impact of professional development on participants.

Notification of Results

All applicants will be notified of panel decisions by email after each round of panel reviews (end of March/early April, end of June/early July, and end of October/early November).

Questions About This Opportunity?

Please contact Arts Education Project Manager, Tina LaPadula, at tina.lapadula@seattle.gov.

Tips:

1. Read the guidelines, online instructions, and contact Submittable for any technical questions.
2. Schedule a 1:1 mentoring session with Tina LaPadula (tina.lapadula@seattle.gov) for support completing the application or to talk through the basics of a class outline or learning plan.
3. Submit your application at least 48-hours before the deadline to avoid errors or technical difficulties. Please do not wait until the last minute.

How to Use Submittable

Submittable maintains a list of frequently asked questions and offers step-by-step guides on their help platform here. For further assistance with the Submittable online application, please contact Submittable tech support at support@submittable.com.

Additional Opportunities

The Creative Advantage is one way that the OAC supports arts education and creative youth development. Join our mailing list to learn about professional development, arts funding, and innovative creative youth program opportunities.

Privacy Notice:

Information that you provide in your application will become part of a record that is subject to public disclosure. The Office of Arts & Culture will not publish this information, but we are legally bound to provide it upon request. For more information, see the Public Records Act, RCW Chapter 42.56. To learn more about how we manage your information, see our Privacy  Statement at www.seattle.gov/tech/initiatives/privacy.