The Teaching Artist Journal (TAJ) provides an authoritative, timely, ongoing professional development resource to clarify, enrich, and advance Teaching Artist research and practice. Teaching Artists--professionals with skills in both teaching and the arts--have uniquely powerful perspectives, practices, and skills. They make significant contributions and are a crucial resource to arts-in-education programs, to arts education and general education, and to the future of the arts as a whole. Until Teaching Artist Journal, there has been no national professional forum for their learning and development, no vehicle for their voices to be heard.

The mission of the Teaching Artist Journal is to support and intensify the professional development of Teaching Artistry by advancing the practice of Teaching Artists; by increasing Teaching Artists' understanding of the background, contexts, and potentials of their work; and by expanding the recognition, appreciation, and support of their contributions. TAJ also seeks to enhance collaboration between Teaching Artists and classroom teachers, school arts specialists and other arts providers; to develop a sense of identity and purpose, to foster common language; and to foster illuminating research in the field.

Neither a traditional scholarly journal (although it includes scholarly articles) nor a traditional professional publication (although it includes articles describing practice), TAJ is a broad, jargon-free, imaginative, direct, and heartfelt peer-reviewed publication addressing the fullest range of practice, research, theory, opinion, and issues related to Teaching Artists. It seeks to include a wide representation of artistic disciplines, of Teaching Artist approaches, of audiences involved, and of cultural contexts. TAJ includes a variety of sections. Submissions for all sections are invited:

• Submissions, questions and comments should be directed to Nick Jaffe, Chief Editor, TAJ at: TAJournal@colum.edu, 773-793-4643.
• Practice, Research, Theory: Original articles in standard journal article format. Suggested length: 2000-4000 words.
• Medley: Some Teaching Artists are disinclined to write articles; to include their voices TAJ will include original poems, artworks, transcripts of dialogs or interviews about teaching artistry, and other alternative presentation forms. Suggested length: 1500-3000 words.
• In My Opinion: Opinion pieces about an issue in the field. Suggested length: 1000-2000 words.
• News Break: Information on changes in the field, conferences, grant opportunities, and advocacy occasions that Teaching Artists should know about. This section will serve as the "one place to go" for Teaching Artists to keep up with their field. Submit information for this section to Laura Reeder: laura@arts4ed.org
• Research Review: Information on new research studies, reports, and resources that will be of value to the Teaching Artist community. Submit information for this section to Judy Hornbacher: horn0017@umn.edu.
• Resource Roundup: Key information to help Teaching Artists design their own ongoing learning, to provide reliable information on which to strengthen programs and improve advocacy, and to help them increase their knowledge and skills--including reviews of books, workbooks, study units, software, and Web sites that are of value to the Teaching Artist community. Submit information to this section to Becca Barniskis: beccabarniskis@visi.com
• Letters to the Journal: A forum for readers to interact and respond to articles; letters may be edited.
• Artwork: TAJ wants to showcase images and artwork that capture aspects of Teaching Artists'experience. Please submit any photographs, artwork, or other images with permission to use for publication.