Teacher Fellowship

Each school year, Intuit Art Museum welcomes a cohort of Chicago Pre‑K–12th grade school teachers to explore the history and contemporary practices of self-taught artists. 

Teacher Fellows work with artists, curators and museum educators to deepen their understanding of self-taught art and engage in critical discussions. Fellows gain access to IAM’s collection, special exhibitions and Study Center, while participating in hands-on workshops with contemporary self-taught artists. They learn best practices in curriculum development, arts assessments and classroom teaching. With support from IAM educators, Fellows design curricula inspired by self-taught art and receive feedback from peers. Participants earn up to 25 Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs), receive a $500 honorarium for classroom materials and join a collaborative learning community.

From September through January, Teacher Fellows participate in monthly Saturday professional development sessions to design a curriculum inspired by self-taught art. From February through April, Teacher Fellows implement their curriculum in their classrooms with continued support from IAM educators. In May, the Museum hosts a Student Exhibition featuring artwork created in the Fellows’ classrooms.

Eligibility 

• The Teacher Fellowship is open to Chicago Pre-K-12th grade educators from all disciplines.
• Priority will be given to teacher applicants working in neighborhoods that have historically experienced disinvestment and limited access to arts funding.
• Chicago Public School teachers will be prioritized.
• Teachers may apply in teams of two from the school. 

The application for the 2026–27 cohort opens on June 1, 2026.