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New England

Teaching Artist 

Collaborative

The River project, designed and facilitated by teaching artist Gowri Savoor at NETAC's Vermont Gathering, July 2023

The purpose of NETAC is to build regional capacity to develop thriving communities by preparing teaching artists to serve as catalysts who activate creative potential and foster partnerships with educators, organizations and community groups.

NETAC is a Collective Impact initiative serving the six New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 

It is led by a Steering Committee (below) that guides the efforts of Working Groups with support from a Backbone Organization, the Community Engagement Lab. 

 

Common Agenda

The Common Agenda is the high-leverage action that participating organizations can do together that no one organization could do alone.

 

NETAC's Common Agenda is to create a rigorous teaching artist professional development program that builds and promotes exemplary models of school and community partnerships.

 

The Common Agenda was explored and affirmed by over 250 teaching artists and community leaders from across New England at the July 2023 Gathering in Vermont and subsequent regional meetings in Waterville and Portland, ME; Boston; Providence, RI; Lyndon and Brattleboro, VT; and Concord, NH.

 

Working Groups

Working Groups are the heartbeat of NETAC, where action occurs and the Common Agenda goals are brought to life. NETAC has three working groups: Professional Learning, Network Building, and Communication.
 

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NETAC Strategic Framework

 

NETAC Hubs

Partnering Locally >> Networking Regionally 

NETAC Hubs support teaching artists to build and promote projects that strengthen the well-being of youth, families and communities.

 

Hubs are a collaboration among cross-sector organizations that anchor the work of NETAC in their community or geographic area. 

 

Hubs have three primary roles in the network:

 

  1. Support professional learning for teaching artists to strengthen their skills as community catalysts who activate creative potential and foster partnerships with educators, organizations and community groups.
     

  2. Develop and model creative projects that improve youth, family, and community well-being and can be adapted and adopted by communities throughout New England.
     

  3. Share knowledge to strengthen the network.

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What is a NETAC Hub? 
 

 

Join Us!

If you are interested in getting involved to help NETAC support teaching artists as catalysts for creative projects that build more thriving communities in your area, please complete this Interest Form and we will be in touch. 

Steering Committee

2024-2025

click an image to read bios

We believe that the New England Teaching Artist Collaborative can: 

  • Model the equitable and inclusive practices that foster wellbeing and social justice.
     

  • Build a teaching artist collaborative that increases sustainability, visibility and the continually-improving practice of the field.
     

  • Amplify the impact of creative community engaged projects on communities throughout the region through strong communications, effective knowledge-sharing, and pioneering models which can be adopted and adapted widely.
     

  • Develop cross-sector partnerships that foster broad support and participation in creative projects to strengthen personal, school and community well-being.

 

 

What do we mean by thriving communities and well-being?
A “thriving” community doesn’t mean that residents never have difficulties. It means that any difficulties are accompanied by access to well-being, which comprises:
 

Relationships – Individuals feel seen, heard and valued, and a sense of belonging.

Support – Individuals feel people have their back.

Engagement – Individuals feel a part of something bigger than themselves.

 

Thanks to Tasha Golden for inspiring this definition of thriving communities and well-being.

VT Gathering
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The Vermont Gathering
IMAGINING WHAT'S POSSIBLE

 

NETAC hosted its first gathering in July 2023, when fifty teaching artists and community leaders from across New England convened in Burlington, VT for a day-and-a-half of planning, learning and visioning together.

 

The Gathering's goal was to "start well" and shape the next steps for NETAC to develop as an initiative serving teaching artists and communities throughout New England.

 

NETAC's strategic framework, designed by the Steering Committee over several months leading up to the Gathering, outlines three growth areas for the network that were explored and further defined at the Gathering: Communication, Network Building, and Professional Learning.

Next Steps

For NETAC to realize its vision, we need a network of individuals and organizations throughout New England that contribute time and resources to its development. 

To help build NETAC's capacity to support teaching artists as community catalysts in your area, complete this INTEREST FORM and we will be in touch. 

Corey DePina, ZUMIX (MA); Rhoda Bernard, Berklee College of Music (MA)

The Rhode Island cohort

L to R: Rebecca Teeters, Long School of Music (MA); Allison Hawkins, NH State Council on the Arts; Jason Young & Randall Nielson, Queerlective (NH); Troy Hickman, VT Arts Council.

L to R foreground: Tyler French, Colby College (ME); Erin Maile O'Keefe, Teaching Artist (VT); Natalya Tausanovitch, New England Foundation for the Arts.

L to R: Majesty Reyes, Teaching Artist (CT); Hanna Ross, Rhode Island Philharmonic; Jane Wegscheider, The Arts Garden (MA)

Lead Sponsors
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