Welcome to the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) online application system.
Applications and support materials must be submitted through Submittable. Follow Submittable instructions to:
- Register for a Submittable applicant account
- Create your applicant profile
- Submit applications
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call ARTS at 206.684.7171 or email arts.culture@seattle.gov. Staff is on-hand to assist applicants during business hours, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
About the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) manages the city's public art program, cultural partnerships grant programs, ARTS at King Street Station, the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, and The Creative Advantage initiative in the effort to foster a city driven by creativity that provides the opportunity for everyone to engage in diverse arts and cultural experiences. In alignment with the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative, we work to eliminate institutional racism in our programs, policies and practices.
Privacy Notice:
Information that you provide in an 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.
Introduction
The Creative Advantage is a partnership between Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Public Schools to increase student access to arts learning.
The Creative Advantage Community Arts Partner Roster is a list of artists, teaching artists, and community arts and culture organizations approved to receive compensation through The Creative Advantage in Seattle Public Schools. Arts partners from the Roster provide integrated and/or cultural arts residencies for students and/or professional development for teachers.
The Creative Advantage Community Arts Partner Roster is maintained by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture as a resource for schools seeking partners to help them meet their arts education equity goals.
The Roster opens for 2025 on November 1, 2024, and will stay open year-round for new 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, October). Roster Advisors are Seattle Public School teacher leaders and current Roster partners.
Deadlines for 2025 Submissions:
- Applications submitted between 11/1/24 and by 5 PM (PST) 2/28/25 will be reviewed during the March review cycle.
- Applications submitted between 3/1/25 and by 5 PM (PST) 5/31/25 will be reviewed during the June review cycle.
- Applications submitted between 6/1/25 and by 5 PM (PST) 9/30/25 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. Applicants must be over the age of 18.
An applicant can apply to provide integrated/cultural arts residencies for students and/or professional development opportunities for teachers. Applicants must indicate whether they want to be considered for one or both of these options.
Application Components
All applications must be submitted online through Submittable.
Documents to Submit: Applicants will upload documentation of their work as an individual artist, teaching artist, or arts organization:
- Individual artist biography or organizational history & teaching artist biographies
- Sample lesson plan(s) or class outline(s)
- Work samples
- Professional development plan (if applicable)
Narrative Questions: Applicants will complete questions that provide information on the following:
- Teaching philosophy and approach
- Equity & access
- Culturally responsive strategies
- 21st Century Skills development
- Lesson plan development
- Teacher collaboration
Review Criteria
Applications for Arts Residencies for Students will be reviewed using the following criteria:
- Approach & Collaboration: Clear approach and experience teaching art to young people
- Lesson Planning: Ability to develop a lesson plan or class outline
- Equity & 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
- Integrated & Cultural Arts: Experience teaching effective integrated arts and/or cultural arts to young people
- 21st Century Skills: Ability to articulate clear arts learning objectives and assessment criteria that include one or more 21st Century Skills (creative and critical thinking, communication, collaboration, perseverance, and growth-mindset)
- Work Samples: Samples demonstrate 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 & Collaboration: Clear approach and experience leading teacher professional development
- Professional Development Planning: Ability to articulate clear arts learning objectives for adult learners
- Equity & 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
- Integrated Arts: Ability to develop a professional development outline for teachers for integrating the arts
- 21st Century Skills: Activities that support teachers to foster 21st Century Skills with students in their own classrooms
- 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, end of October/early November).
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture reserves the right not to select any of the applicants.
Questions About This Opportunity?
Please contact the Arts Education Project Manager Tina LaPadula, at tina.lapadula@seattle.gov
Tips:
- Read the guidelines, online instructions, and, if need be, contact Submittable for any technical questions.
- Schedule a 1:1 mentoring session with the Arts Education Project Manager (Tina LaPadula - tina.lapadula@seattle.gov) for support completing the application or to talk through the basics of a class outline or learning plan.
- Submit your application early 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 (FAQ) 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 Office of Arts & Culture 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.