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Develop a Budget

“There were so many valuable aspects of the residency for the school community. I feel that the aspect of most value to the school would be that the residency was able to “reach” some students that normally do not meet a great deal of success in many of their school activities. I would like to see the residency continue as it definitely contributed to the school’s philosophy of multiple intelligences and meeting the needs of all children.”
Dennis Williams, Assistant
Principal, Parkway School, Ewing

A budget needs to be developed through careful planning with the school team. Ensuring there are adequate funds to support areas such as artist fees, supplies, staff time and documentation is key to hosting a successful residency. A sound budget will aid in understanding the true impact of such a valuable opportunity as well as assist in securing funds through grants and proposals from outside of the school budget. Carefully consider the following areas when developing a budget:

  • Residency Artist Fees: The AIE program has a set per diem rate for Residency Artists (currently $275). A Residency Day is three hours long. If you are not working through AIE, a daily rate should be set for the teaching artist leading the residency and based on the number of hours the artist works every day.
  • Individual Visiting Artist/Company Fees: A day rate for individual Visiting Artists should also be determined in advance based on the residency plan. The teaching day should be the same length as the Residency Artist day and the rate should be the same. Artist Companies or Teams should be budgeted at a higher rate of pay as more artists will receive fees.
  • Supplies, Materials and Equipment: It is essential to include in the budget funds to purchase the necessary supplies, materials and equipment to support the residency project. The school can also use existing supplies towards the project or seek donations from local stores or community groups.
  • Field Trip: A residency can be greatly enhanced by taking the students on a field trip to a related cultural, historical or community site related to the project theme.
  • Staff Time: When designing a budget for a residency, consider the time teachers and administrators will spend working on the project. For example, substitute fees should be added to support time when teachers will be out of the classroom for residency-related events such as a planning meeting, Professional Development Workshop and culminating event.
  • Documentation: A portion of the budget should be dedicated toward documenting the residency from start to finish. These funds can support photography or videos, the reproduction of a binder or book or the creation of a computer based presentation. Ensuring the residency has been documented will help sustain the long-term benefits of the project giving teachers and administrators a reference for the future.
Investigate and assess additional funding sources
  • School budget – Titles I, II, V, VI grants; district grants that support related learning topics such as: literacy, youth at risk, character building, etc.
  • PTA/PTO or other parent/teacher groups
  • Local, county and state arts councils
  • Town education foundation
  • Local businesses and service organizations
  • Private and corporate foundations that support education in school’s region, town, county or state
  • Additional options (see Resource List and Links).