The William Penn Foundation (WPF) is seeking proposals for its Teaching Artist Training Programs to support professional development, networking, and skill-building for teaching artists in the Philadelphia region. The initiative aims to ensure that teaching artists are well-prepared to deliver high-quality, inclusive, and trauma-informed arts education programs that promote creativity, social-emotional development, and community engagement among youth. Teaching artists play a vital role in connecting students to cultural communities while fostering empathy and critical thinking skills.

Eligible projects should provide free or low-cost professional development opportunities that equip teaching artists with skills to enhance their practice in current or upcoming teaching roles. Programs must also foster ongoing networks of practitioners, allowing teaching artists to share expertise and resources as part of a learning cohort. Proposals should emphasize hands-on, interactive training that incorporates opportunities for individualized instruction and active engagement with instructors.

WPF is particularly interested in proposals for one- to two-year projects that use diverse approaches to achieve these goals. The Foundation has allocated $1 million for this initiative, with competitive grant requests expected to be under $200,000 over two years. Funding requests should be proportionate to the scope and impact of the proposed project. Partnerships between organizations are encouraged to leverage complementary strengths and benefit communities collaboratively. After an initial review, WPF may conduct site visits and gather additional information from select applicants.

Certain types of proposals will not be considered, including fully asynchronous virtual training, single-session workshops, and training focused solely on specific tools or technologies. Programs should also not be limited to the internal staff of a single organization. Instead, the Foundation seeks proposals that serve the broader community of teaching artists with a demonstrated history of employment in the field.

Applications are due by January 31, 2025, and must be submitted through WPF’s Grants Portal. Interested organizations can access a full Request for Proposals (RFP) packet for detailed guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application templates. Additionally, WPF will host an optional informational webinar on December 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM ET, with a recording available afterward for those unable to attend. This initiative represents an opportunity to enhance the professional capacity of teaching artists and enrich the arts education ecosystem in the Philadelphia region.