Teaching Artist & Curriculum Liaison

Overview

At The Heart of Art, we believe every child deserves the power of creativity, the magic of storytelling, and the confidence that comes from self-expression. We are committed to fostering creativity and personal growth by providing equitable access to the performing arts and education, empowering children and youth in underserved communities while promoting racial equity through our programs. Our mission is that every child has a stage, a story, and a chance to shine.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using the performing arts as a gateway to foster literacy, education, creativity, and community building. We empower children and youth through programs that combine the magic of storytelling with the transformative power of the arts.

The Teaching Artist & Curriculum Liaison serves as the bridge between creative vision and program execution at The Heart of Art. This role ensures that all curriculum is not only engaging and arts-driven, but also structured, intentional, and aligned with program outcomes
. Working closely with the Chair of Arts & Program Development
, this role supports the design, refinement, and delivery of curriculum for programs such as Get Lit(ery) and Stay Lit(erary), ensuring consistency across facilitators and program sites.

Purpose of the Role

At The Heart of Art, our programs are where the mission comes to life. The Teaching Artist & Curriculum Liaison ensures that every session is purposeful, engaging, and aligned with both artistic and educational goals
.

This role exists to:

• Translate program vision into clear, actionable curriculum
• Support teaching artists in delivering high-quality, consistent experiences
• Ensure alignment between literacy, wellness, and artistic expression
• Continuously refine programming based on feedback and outcomes

Curriculum Development & Alignment

• Design and refine curriculum for all HOA programs, including
• Lesson plans
• Session outlines
• Activity guides
• Ensure curriculum aligns with
• Program goals and outcomes
• Literacy integration
• Social-emotional learning principles

Teaching Artist Support & Guidance

• Serve as a resource for teaching artists by
• Providing clear facilitation guidance
• Offering tools, prompts, and structure for sessions
• Ensure facilitators understand how to deliver curriculum with both creativity and consistency

Program Implementation Support

• Collaborate with program leadership to ensure curriculum is executed effectively across sites
• Observe sessions (when possible) and provide feedback for continuous improvement
• Identify gaps between curriculum design and real-time delivery

Curriculum Standardization & Quality Control

• Ensure consistency in program delivery across different facilitators and locations
• Maintain and update curriculum documents as programs evolve
• Adapt curriculum based on student needs, feedback, and assessment insights

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with
• Reading & Literacy Liaison to align curriculum with literacy goals
• Wellness Liaison to ensure trauma-informed and SEL practices are embedded
• Integrate feedback into curriculum updates and enhancements

Innovation & Creative Development

• Introduce new activities, storytelling approaches, and performance-based strategies
• Ensure programming remains fresh, engaging, and responsive to student interests

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Background in one or more of the following
• Teaching artist work (theatre, performance, or arts education)
• Curriculum design or instructional development
• Arts education or youth programming
• Experience working with children and/or adolescents
• Strong understanding of both creative facilitation and structured learning
• Ability to translate ideas into clear, engaging lesson plans
• Passion for using the arts to support literacy, confidence, and community

Impact of the Role

With a Teaching Artist & Curriculum Liaison, The Heart of Art ensures that

• Programs are delivered with consistency and quality across all sites
• Teaching artists feel supported, confident, and prepared
• Curriculum is both creative and outcome-driven
• Students experience programming that is engaging, structured, and transformative

This role ensures that every session is not just a moment of creativity, but a well-crafted experience that builds skills, confidence, and connection
.