Those wanting to learn more about the TAP program and what it entails are encouraged to attend an informational session – in person at Newport Visual Arts Center on Tuesday, February 3 at 5:30pm
Oregon Coast Council for the Arts’ TAP (Teaching Artist Preparation) program provides community artists with tools and paid training to help develop their abilities as instructors. The goal is to tap into local talent to cultivate a team of teaching artists poised and qualified to share their unique skills, methods, and creative insights through guided arts workshops and classes.
CLICK HERE to apply for our 2026 TAP Program
Deadline February 9th
TAP helps to bridge the gap between practicing one’s artform and teaching that artform to others in a meaningful way, offering local artists the training and support they need to become community teaching artists, who will then work with students, teachers, and the community at large on behalf of OCCA—increasing access to the creative process for all ages, youth through adults.
The program, led by Laurie Barber, provides selected artists with 29 hours of paid training and support to help them develop new skills that deepen the quality and impact of their arts instruction—the desired outcome being a minimum of one new workshop developed. Those selected will receive a stipend for the training period, which will include both in-person and remote sessions. Selected artists need only arrive with a passion for their art, and a sincere desire to share it with others. The program includes focused, specialized instruction covering topics such as lesson planning, time management, classroom management, communication styles, teaching methods, workshop preparation, and more.
Artists from all disciplines, styles, cultures, ages, and experience levels are encouraged to apply, including visual artists, theatre artists, literary artists, musicians, craftspeople, and more. Applicants should possess a genuine interest in sharing their talents with others and be available for and open to providing paid arts instruction following completion of the course—by way of workshops and classes that would take place on weekdays, evenings, and/or weekends.
Important dates for 2026:
* February 3 – Info session
* February 9 – Deadline to apply
* February 17 – Artist selection announced
* February 26th – Zoom kickoff meeting
* March 5th – In-person training begins
* May 22nd – In-person training concludes
INSTRUCTOR BIO: Laurie Barber is a visual artist from Southern California with over 25 years of arts education, arts administration and community engagement experience. She is the proud mom of two young adults that have both benefited from the power of quality arts education. Laurie creates and facilitates arts experiences for people of all ages and is especially passionate about creating professional development opportunities for artists and educators. We were all born creative creatures and Laurie’s life work is to find ways to increase access to arts experiences for everyone. All humans need and deserve creative outlets.