The International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) is the world-wide network for artists who work in participatory settings to create positive social impact. These practitioners go by many titles in different countries and languages—often called Teaching Artists, Participatory Artists, Community Artists, or Socially Engaged Artists, and other titles. Whatever your title and artform, if you use your practice to activate the artistry of others, and guide that powerful force in people toward positive outcomes, ITAC welcomes you to our (free and growing) network!
To stay up to date with our projects, resources, opportunities and events, including how to get involved more deeply just subscribe to our mailing list here. You will find opportunities and ideas you won’t find anywhere else in every monthly issue.
A world where teaching artists are working in the heart of learning and communities, making a positive impact with the transformative power of Teaching Artistry
To support, expand and connect the international community of teaching artists and collaborators, cultivate excellence in teaching artistry and advocate for sustainable development through participatory practice.
- Improved practice
- Better international connectivity
- Greater understanding of practice in different countries
- Increased opportunity for international collaboration
- Greater command of the value of our practices across sectors
- Increased visibility, support and status for the work.
ITAC is a Collaborative network, and our role is to listen, serve, uplift and respond to the needs of the Teaching Artist sector internationally. We create programmes, events, opportunities and platforms which can support and advocate for practitioners and the value of their work. We amplify the most promising work everywhere.
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Our key focus areas include:
After hosting biennial conferences every year since 2012, ITAC became a year-round organisation in 2018, as a result of the appetite created by these gatherings. We are the first international network created by and for teaching artists. As of summer 2022, our membership has grown 900% since 2018.
You can meet the team who lead ITAC by visiting the Our People page.
The first of our groundbreaking ITAC Conferences, ITAC1, took place in Norway in 2012, instigated by Eric Booth and Marit Ulvund through her Seanse Art Center. Following its success and the needs expressed by the teaching artist delegates, the organisers made a commitment to hold a biennial international conference focussing on the work of teaching artists - and they have been happening ever since. The second ITAC, ITAC2, was held in Brisbane in 2014, ITAC3 in Edinburgh in 2016, ITAC4 in New York in 2018 and ITAC5 happened remotely via Seoul Korea in 2020. ITAC6 will take place in Oslo in September 2022.
These biennial events aim to be a dynamic platform for:
- Sharing practice, learning and research in the field of participatory arts -
- Showcasing best and next practices for the host and visiting nations -
- Generating new connections and building a vibrant energy towards an international community -
In 2021, in response to the growth of our network, and ever-increasing demand for events, ITAC launched our inaugural set of ITAC Hubs, which aim to act locally and share globally. These are national Hubs in Korea, New Zealand, Norway and the USA with a commitment to Teaching Artistry, who share ITACs vision and work alongside us to support and enhance our sector in their countries.
To find out more about the ITAC Hubs, who leads them and how to connect, visit their Hub pages.
A world where every country has artists working in the heart of communities and learning. Where these artists are continually improving, internationally connected and well supported, and the potential of the practice and its transformative power is visible and valued.
