The Teaching Artist: Unraveling the Unknown Features of a Well-Known Creature Through a Systematic Literature Review

Over the past few decades, the engagement of artists in teaching activities has played a crucial role in society—specifically in areas such as schooling and social service agencies—while simultaneously providing artists with a supplementary income source. This systematic literature review explores the current state of research on the engagement of artists in teaching activities, addressing the questions: How have teaching artists been examined in recent academic literature, and what are the main topics of discussion in scholarly conversations about teaching artists? A total of 125 articles published between 2010 and 2020 were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. This study identifies five central themes: teaching artists’ practice, their lives, professional development, policy-related issues, and terminology. It also provides recommendations for future research, emphasizing the need for consensus on terminology, developing a clear typology, and examining the impact and effectiveness of professional development programs for teaching artists at various career stages to enhance their skills and knowledge.