Abrons Arts Center and The School of Making Thinking (SMT) are accepting proposals for our Spring course series for learners 18+. We are seeking course proposals that offer unique approaches to instruction and bridge creative disciplines. Artists and thinkers working across the areas of architecture, writing, performance, music, movement, community organizing, and more, are encouraged to apply. 

This Spring semester, all courses will take place in person at Abrons Arts Center, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. 

Please see our Fall 2025 courses for examples or our archive of past courses.

About Organizational Partners:

About Abrons Arts Center 

Abrons Arts Center is a program of Henry Street Settlement, a social services agency with nearly 130 years of experience providing front line support to New Yorkers. Since the founding of our Neighborhood Playhouse in 1915, Abrons has been a space for artists of all ages and stages to experiment with and share new ideas. Our Arts Education programming is shaped around the interests of our learners and is facilitated by professional teaching artists.  

About The School of Making Thinking

The School of Making Thinking (SMT) creates responsive, field-influencing arts programming in pursuit of equity, justice and sustainability. We do this by cultivating a peer-led community of practice between artists, researchers, and activists.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Prior teaching experience is highly encouraged, but not a requirement. A passion and interest in teaching is a must. 
• Faculty must be available for the mandatory orientation and all course dates. Please review the “Important Dates” section before submitting your proposal.  
• We are interested in proposals that push the edges of creative fields. Course proposals should be socially and politically responsive, experimental, pedagogically innovative, and relevant to the instructor’s practice, in alignment with the mission and values of Abrons Arts Center and SMT. 

Course Details 

• Courses run for 4 weeks in April 2025.
• Class time runs for 2 hours. 
• Courses are hosted on weekday evenings between 6-8pm
• All courses will gather on the evening of Wednesday, April 30th for a class-wide share out event. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Faculty attendance and facilitation is required.
• Courses are held once a week on weekday evenings, scheduled in partnership with the instructor. 
• Courses require a minimum of 7 learners to run. The maximum capacity of a course is 20. Courses with less than 7 enrolled learners will be canceled. 
• Courses will take place in person at Abrons Arts Center.
• Teachers will be required to attend the mandatory Faculty Orientation on Monday March 17th, 2025, 5-6 pm EST on Zoom

Compensation Details 

• Faculty are paid $800 for their course ($80/hour for 8 teaching hours + 2 hours at the final sharing). Payment is issued 2 weeks following the culmination of the course. 

Course Registration Information 

• Courses cost for learners is $250 for a 4 week course with an additional $25 registration fee.
• Abrons Arts Center and SMT offer 50% tuition discount for lower income participants and sliding scale tuition rates to Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Trans and Disabled Participants, in addition to the $25 registration fee. Activating these discounts requires a simple application process and email correspondence with Abrons administrators. 

Questions?: Please email sophie@theschoolofmakingthinking.com