Teaching artists at Lincoln Center, who are represented by the UFT, voted unanimously on Jan. 31 to ratify a new five-year contract with Lincoln Center.

The two dozen teaching artists, whose previous contract ended in June, will receive an immediate 18% rate increase for in-person meetings, 3% annual pay increases each year of the deal and increased contributions by management toward health coverage.

The agreement also gives the teaching artists, who work with public school students who visit the Lincoln Center Education program, a seat at the table to help shape the type of education they provide with the contract’s establishment of a labor-management committee.

“We needed to educate the new administration as to who the teaching artists are and what their contributions have been to education and the world of the arts,” said UFT Special Representative Michael Herron, who led the negotiations for the union.

New leaders at Lincoln Center eliminated aesthetic education, or art appreciation, from the curriculum. The teaching artists expressed hope that the labor-management committee will explore ways to reincorporate aesthetic education.

“They did not want to include aesthetic education,” said Beata Moon, the chapter’s UFT delegate and a Lincoln Center teaching artist since 1997. Moon said the union pushed back because aesthetic education helps students learn to think critically about “a performance or gallery exhibit they would see. It’s about using art to make connections.”

Chapter Leader Belinda Saenz said the new contract also will improve communication about assignment details.

“The transparency of the organization is much more relevant in this contract,” she said.

Both Saenz and Moon praised the partnership with the UFT.

“I appreciated the teamwork during the process,” Moon said. “The UFT team worked really well with the teaching artist team, and ultimately the Lincoln Center team was really responsive.”