Visual Art Teacher

Tasks & duties

Visual art teachers may do all or some of the following:

• teach art to people of all ages
• teach about art from a range of cultures and styles
• plan art programmes according to school syllabus requirements and students' abilities
• explain and demonstrate various art and design techniques
• encourage students to develop ideas and explore art
• organise art groups or workshops
• display students' work in schools, galleries and exhibitions
• work in schools, other institutes or the community

Specialisations

Visual art teachers who have a relevant qualification or experience can also teach specialist art subjects, such as printmaking, photography and design, to Year 12 and 13 students.

Skills & knowledge

Visual art teachers need to have:

• knowledge of different art techniques, equipment and materials
• knowledge of the history and contemporary development of artists and art styles
• knowledge of the New Zealand school curriculum 
• teaching skills, knowledge of different teaching methods and learning styles and how to plan lessons
• skill in evaluating students' progress and the ability to assess art portfolios
• good communication skills and the ability to relate well to students and other adults
• classroom-management skills
• am understanding and awareness of other cultures
• research skills
• organisational ability and problem-solving skills
• knowledge of how to access services that provide support and help to teachers.
• computer skills

Visual art teachers working in schools need to have knowledge of school rules and procedures, safety and emergency procedures and first-aid skills.

Entry requirements

To become a visual art teacher at a secondary school you need to have a degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in fine arts or design) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. 

Your degree should include a second teaching subject, such as English, to meet the entry requirements for the graduate diploma programme. This enables visual art teachers to teach an additional subject, if there are only a few art classes taught. 

Some colleges offer a Bachelor of Teaching majoring in art. However, this is becoming less common, as graduates are paid less than those with an art degree and a postgraduate teaching qualification. 

Teachers who work in private schools and community centres usually require a qualification or significant experience in a fine arts subject.

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is needed to enter teacher training. Useful subjects include art, art history, graphics (technical drawing), computer studies and English.

Training on the job

Newly qualified visual art teachers have a reduced workload and special support provided by their school for the first two years in the job. 

Secondary school teachers are required to spend a certain number of hours training each year. This can be done through departmental courses, in-house training or external courses, workshops and seminars.

The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Art Educators is a network set up to enable art teachers to support each other through meetings, seminars and conferences. 

Registration

First year secondary school visual art teachers must be provisionally registered with the New Zealand Teachers Council. After two years satisfactory work as a teacher, they can become fully registered teachers and are issued with a practising certificate. 

Useful experience

Useful experience for visual art teachers includes:

Related courses

General Primary and Secondary Education
Teacher Education: Tertiary
Teacher Education: General (Pre-Service)
Teacher Education: Secondary (Pre-Service)

For more information, please refer to Career Services.