The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) aims to enrich the artistic and cultural landscape of Ohio through various initiatives, supporting education, and fostering the arts in community development, education, and economic growth.
The TeachArtsOhio (TAO) program seeks to integrate high-quality arts learning experiences into PK-12 education by connecting schools and community organizations with teaching artists. The program emphasizes a broad spectrum of engagements, from short-term to year-long immersive experiences, designed to offer students hands-on arts education. Teaching artists lead these experiences, fostering creativity, cultural understanding, and innovative learning methods among students. Financially supported through OAC funds, the program covers the professional fees of teaching artists, alleviating budget constraints for schools and districts. Each residency is tailored to the specific needs of the participating school, with planning assistance provided for both new and returning applicants to ensure a profound and lasting impact on students' learning through the arts. The project aims for in-depth arts education with professional development for staff and multifaceted culminating projects that demonstrate the students' learning journey.