A unique professional development opportunity, the Arts Industry Teacher Placement Program provides high school creative arts teachers with the opportunity to reconnect with the professional side of their chosen artform by way of a four week work placement with a professional arts organisation or institution. In addition to providing teachers with increased skills and awareness of their art form in a professional context, the program also provides arts organisations with an exceptional opportunity to enhance their own education programs through access to the skills and specialist knowledge of a practicing teacher.

The four week placement generally takes place in the latter half of the year, but the exact timeframe is negotiable depending on the commitments of the teacher and host organisation. All expenses, including travel, living away from home allowances and the cost of a relief teacher for the entire period, are entirely funded by ConnectEd Arts.

A further two high school creative arts teachers were selected to undertake a work placement at a professional arts organisation in 2006. A visual arts teacher from Dareton undertook a four-week placement at Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, and a music teacher from Gol Gol undertook a placement with Gandwanna Voices in Sydney. The Arts Industry Teacher Placement program aims to enhance the professional nature of teachers’ practice through engagement with a professional arts organisation. The program also provides arts organisations with an exceptional opportunity to enhance their own education programs with input from a practicing teacher.