Resource Development – Teaching Artists and Social Media
Overview
Summary: Commissioned by the International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) as part of its Innovators program, the Teaching Artists and Social Media resource aims to fill a key gap for teaching artists seeking to use social media for impactful outreach and community connection. This project responds to a recognized need within the field for a guide that specifically addresses teaching artists’ perspectives on digital engagement.
✦ Project Title: Teaching Artists and Social Media
✦ Role: Project Coordinator, Resource Developer, Resource Designer.
✦ Year: 2023
Industries: Teaching Artistry, Arts Education, Creative Industries, Arts and Culture, Community Engagement, Content Creation, Resource Development.
Deliverables:
✦ Comprehensive Guide: A user-friendly guide that demystifies social media platforms, empowering teaching artists to integrate them into their creative and educational practices.
✦ Printer-Friendly Handbook: Accompanied by a practical workbook designed for easy printing in black and white. The workbook serves as a hands-on companion, providing exercises, reflections, and practical tips to help teaching artists navigate and apply the concepts discussed in the guide effectively.
Context
Client/Organization: The International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC)
Context: In today’s digital age, social media is essential for connecting, entertaining, and consuming content. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube have become essential tools for discovery and learning. While not everyone is comfortable with social media, it remains a powerful force in shaping perceptions and facilitating learning.
Younger generations use social media for entertainment, information, and learning, often preferring these platforms to traditional search engines. To connect with this audience, teaching artists must consider using social media to advocate for their practice and showcase their work.
As part of ITAC’s INNOVATORS program, this resource contributes to ITAC’s key areas of focus: network development, professional development, and advocacy. It aims to help Teaching Artists become more visible online, reach worldwide audiences, and enhance their professional skills.
Objectives:
✦ Help teaching artists see social media as a valuable tool for their creative and educational work by creating an easy-to-follow guide.
✦ Debunk common myths and provide simple navigation tips to help teaching artists feel comfortable using social media.
✦ Offer practical advice, creative ideas, and a supportive framework to encourage teaching artists to build a social media presence and make a positive impact in their communities.
Approach
The development of the “Teaching Artists and Social Media” guide and workbook required a multifaceted approach to address several challenges:
✦ Collaborative Coordination: Leading a diverse, international working group required effective communication and strategic problem-solving to align the varied perspectives of the group members.
✦ Comprehensive Research: Conducting thorough research involved analyzing existing resources, identifying gaps, and understanding the unique needs of teaching artists.
✦ Hands-on Approach: Developing and testing new social media strategies involved experimenting with different ideas and refining them to ensure they were practical, useful, and tailored to the specific needs of teaching artists.
✦ Design and Development: One of the goals was to create an informative and accessible guide and workbook. The content was carefully crafted to simplify the use of social media, ensuring it’s engaging and relevant for teaching artists worldwide.
This approach resulted in the development of a comprehensive guide and workbook designed to empower teaching artists to effectively use social media, thereby enhancing their professional practice and advocating for their work on a global scale.
Learnings
✦ Embracing Diverse Perspectives: Collaborating with an international team underscored the value of diverse perspectives, enriching our resource and making it more relevant for teaching artists worldwide.
✦ Adaptability and Flexibility: Being adaptable and flexible was key throughout the process. Testing and refining ideas showed that being open to feedback and making adjustments improved the resource, making it more effective and user-friendly.
✦ Importance of Research: In-depth research played a critical role in shaping this resource by identifying gaps and tailoring the resource to the unique needs of teaching artists.
✦ Balancing Simplicity and Depth: Achieving the right balance between simplicity and depth was essential in developing this guide and handbook. The goal was to demystify social media for teaching artists and provide comprehensive insights along with practical strategies.
✦ Empowerment through Education: This resource highlights the connection between education and empowerment. By providing teaching artists with the knowledge and tools to navigate social media, they can effectively expand their impact and reach.
Conclusion
The journey of developing this resource has been a valuable learning experience, highlighting the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and a user-centered approach. I hope that the resulting guide and workbook will serve as a valuable resource for teaching artists worldwide, helping them to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and creativity.
In the age of visual media and social networking, social media is an essential tool for teaching artists. This resource aims to empower teaching artists to harness the power of social media to enhance their visibility, professional skills, and advocacy efforts. By collaborating and sharing ideas, teaching artists can make a positive impact on the field and establish their practices globally. This resource represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between teaching artistry and digital engagement.
About the Teaching Artists and Social Media Resource
Target Audience: This resource is designed for teaching artists who want to make connections beyond the traditional classroom and increase their influence and presence on digital platforms —especially those who are new to social media. The guide and handbook are designed to help them cultivate a content-creator mindset.
Key Features: This guide explores essential topics such as content pillars, potential challenges to content creation, the content creator’s mindset, setting clear goals and objectives, selecting optimal content formats, and fostering a strategic mindset. It also provides insights into the teaching artist’s content creation mindset and showcases success stories to inspire and guide teaching artists in their digital engagement efforts.
The Handbook: The handbook is meticulously designed to complement the guide, offering teaching artists a tangible tool for implementation. Its printer-friendly format ensures accessibility and convenience, allowing users to engage with exercises and reflections directly related to their social media strategies. By providing structured exercises and prompts, the workbook encourages active participation and facilitates personalized learning and growth in digital engagement.
Workshop: Teaching Artists and Social Media
Are you an arts organization looking to support the career development of young and emerging artists? The Teaching Artists and Social Media workshop offers a hands-on, reflective experience focused on building a healthy and sustainable approach to social media. This practical workshop guides teaching artists through a mindset shift around content creation, helping them see social media as an authentic extension of their creative practice. Participants will engage in exercises designed to help them reflect, set meaningful goals, and draft a personalized social media strategy.
