ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF SUCCESSFUL RESIDENCIES

planning the residency

Field Trips and Visiting Artists

Schools should plan to include either a field trip or host a Visiting Artist(s) in support and as part of the residency design. This flexibility is offered in recognition of transportation and budget restrictions that some schools face. Either option enhances the residency experience for students and teachers by expanding, exploring and integrating other art forms.

“This residency enhanced and extended the school curriculum, giving the children the opportunity to maintain a creative expression, develop an understanding and acceptance of a variety of cultures and acquire the tools of the mind and body they will need to foster self esteem and accomplishment through dance performance”

Liliana Attar, Center Square School artist,
Logan Township

Field Trips

Visits to museums, theaters, galleries and studios can enhance students’ understanding, build excitement about the art form and forge connections between the students’ own work and that of professional artists. For example: students might attend a poetry reading at a local bookstore, take a field trip to a sculpture garden or watch a rehearsal performance at a nearby theater company.

Talk with the Residency Artist about opportunities for students to see exhibits, performances, rehearsals or works-inprogress uring the residency. Discuss the purpose, impact, scheduling, logistics and budget for any field trips (transportation, fees, permission slips, teacher-release time, volunteer support) at the planning meeting.

Visiting Artists

The Residency Artist leads all sessions for students and staff during the entire residency. The Residency Artist and/or AIE Partner can recommend possible Visiting Artists to co-teach particular classes, demonstrate an aspect of the art form, share art work and/or play a role in rehearsals and culminating event. Some examples: a musician can enhance a dance residency so students can practice with live music; a poet can help students reflect on their creative process or on the subject of their artwork during a visual arts residency; or a theatre artist who specializes in make-up and costumes might be brought in during a theatre residency to give students the experience of physical transformations of a character.

Presentation to the School Board

The Steering Committee determines with the AIE Partner who will attend a board meeting to announce the residency and introduce the Residency Artist. Decide whether the presentation will be at the onset as an introduction to the residency or at the closing as a way to share work product and impact. Determine participants, plan and schedule a presentation (including students, the Residency Artist and AIE Partner when possible) to serve as advocacy for the value of the arts in education.

Evaluation

Your AIE partner will coordinate arrangements for a visit by an On-Site Evaluator to observe the residency in action. This evaluator is an independent consultant, usually an arts administrator, educator or teaching artist with a background in residencies and the specific arts discipline, who is invited to provide objective and constructive feedback. The time and date of the visit are arranged and agreed to by the Administrative and On-Site Coordinator, Residency Artist and participating teachers. The evaluator is asked to observe at least two Core Group sessions, and interview the Residency Artist, On-Site Coordinator and several participating teachers. Copies of the report are shared with the AIE Partner, the school and the Residency Artist.

Music Residency at Edison Middle School, West Orange
Music Residency at Edison Middle School, West Orange

Assessment

Design an assessment tool to measure student impact of the residency. A rubric can help and there are models to examine and decide if this is right for your residency. (See Resource pg. 48). School districts and individual schools may have a standardized tool, which can be adapted to capture residency-specific learning in relation to appropriate developmental benchmarks, content standards and adopted curriculum goals. A school district may even have a staff member who is solely dedicated to assessment practices and can be introduced to the residency process to track student impact throughout the residency.

Contract Agreement

The school representatives and the Residency Artist sign a contract agreement provided by the AIE partner that defines roles, responsibilities and payment terms. Information and award amounts regarding grants supporting the residency are included.