Early Childhood | School-based | Community-based

Download information guidelines and application materials (Microsoft Word documents):
Artist Residency Overview - Community based
Artist Residency Overview - School-based
Artist Residency Application

During fiscal year 2006-2007, VSA conducted 20 artist residency programs for nearly 600 participants with and without disabilities.

VSA arts of Wisconsin's Artist Residency program provides opportunities for children and adults to engage in hands-on arts experiences with professional artists. Artist Residencies are offered throughout the state and in all artistic disciplines, including visual art, movement, drama, and creative writing. Artists with specialized training in adaptive techniques collaborate with educators and agency staff to develop an artist residency that strengthens and advances artistic development and creativity within the lives of the participants. Schools and agencies interested in a program partnership are invited to complete an Artist Residency application. A fee is requested from program partners.

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Early Childhood Artist Residencies
During fiscal year 2006-2007, VSA conducted artist residencies at 12 early childhood sites (22 classrooms) for 351 children with and without disabilities (197 with disabilities) and involving 46 educators.

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School-based Artist Residencies
During fiscal year 2006-2007, VSA conducted artist residencies at six schools for 181 students with and without disabilities (133 with disabilities) and involving 33 educators.

Dover Street School, Milwaukee (March 5 - April 27) 20-hour residency in music and creative movement integrated into social studies curriculum, with VSA teaching artist Suzanne Carter.

Ethan Allen School, Wales (Sept. - Dec. 2006) 35-hour visual art residency featuring sculpture and papermaking with VSA teaching artist Paula Washow

Fairview South Elementary, Brookfield (Jan 19 - March 23) 20-hour music and drumming residency with VSA teaching artists Naomi Bodine and Miriam Larsen. Students of varying disabilities and some without disabilities will work with Miriam and Naomi to engage in collaborative drumming and percussion sessions. Students will be explore and learn drum beats and songs from various cultures. Some of the music will include: Native American (“The Earth is Our Mother”), African (“Fanga”), American Jazz (“Raise the Roof”), and gospel music. Students will utilize drums, tambourines and other musical instruments and props during program sessions and the final performance. Some students will also participate in an interactive “wheelchair dance” that will be part of the final performance. Students and educators will also come together to learn to use “gathering drums”, building teamwork, social skill development and collaboration into the program.

Lincoln Elementary, Cudahy (March - April) 30-hour residency in visual art with VSA teaching artist Kitty Dyble Thompson (pictured, white sweater) Students will work with VSA artist to create an mural that will be permanently displayed in the school. The theme of the mural will be “Our Community” and students will identify, research and represent (through original drawings) significant places, landmarks, and people in the St. Francis/Cudahy area of Milwaukee. Kitty will guide the students who will work as a team to collectively design, compose and paint the final mural. Once the final design is complete, Kitty and the students will project the design to prepared tiles and the students will transfer the mural design to the tiles, utilizing math skills to create grid for the transfer process. The students will then paint the tiles to match the original design/composition and color scheme. A celebration is planned at the end of the project.

Pulaski High School, Milwaukee (Feb. 28 - May 9) 30-hour residency in visual art with VSA teaching artist Mary Fran Murray Students are painting three nine-foot benches that will be installed at the school (near entryway to courtyard and school’s front entrance); the benches may eventually be installed in a planned outdoor courtyard. Students and teachers are determining bench themes as project develops. The program addresses cultural themes and increases students’ sense of belonging and self-esteem through collaborative art making.

Stratford Elementary, Stratford, Feb. 13 - March 15 20-hour puppetry and performing arts residency with VSA teaching artist Pam Corcoran

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Community-based Artist Residencies
VSA Teaching Artist Jane Thissen conducted an artist residency at Opportunity, Inc., in Wisconsin Rapids this fall, where participants created a border of canvas paintings for their gathering room. The paintings were done individually with a family atmosphere of laughter, sharing, and respect for all in their endeavors to showcase their abilities and expression in abstract form. The participants were encouraged to paint with free form, abstract and brilliant colors. Those who were more comfortable with a 3D process were encouraged to create sculptures in the same method, and then paint the pieces with colors of their choice. The finished project is a “ moving exhibit” that can be displayed in public sett ings to show the artistic abilities and inspiration of the participating artists.