In-School Residency Program

Rooted in aesthetic education philosophy, each residency explores an art form that culminates in a focus performance or work of art. This approach engages students in learning about works of art through hands-on inquiry, questioning, writing, and art making.

In preparation, TAs collaborate with teachers to customize a series of in-class workshops that address Delaware Common Core State Standards and Delaware Standards for Visual and Performing Arts while offering opportunities for students to explore, create, and reflect on the art form. Our DiAE in-school residency program is modeled after the Lincoln Center Education’s Focus School program.

An In-School Residency includes the following in-person or virtual options:

  • Two planning meetings:  TA and classroom teacher to discuss the residency goals, art form, and the curriculum.
  • At LEAST 3 classroom sessions: The TA will lead an art-making lesson with each class of students a minimum of three times.
  • A Focus Art Experience: Students will have the opportunity to engage with professional artists virtually or in-person through artist talks, gallery visits, school assemblies, or field trips for live productions.
“The most special moment was having students visit the Delaware Art Museum’s Posing Beauty in African American Culture exhibit with Shannon [Woodloe] as their guide. The girls were so engaged because of the planning and prep Shannon gave them before our trip. Afterwards, they shared very insightful responses to her questions about culture, beauty, and art as we discussed the exhibit. It was magical because typically students don’t get as excited when visiting a museum, but this residency has proven that exposing children to the arts positions them to be more critical thinkers, readers, writers, and consumers of pop culture and history.”

~Taria Pritchett, Mt. Pleasant High School, English Teacher Advisor of Girls Empowered After-School Program

How In-School Residency Program is funded

DiAE will help the school identify and secure partial funding support through a DDOA Artist Residency grant, the DiAE Ellen R. Hersh Scholarship Fund or other community support. The cost to bring a residency to your school includes the following expenses: payment for teaching artist, focus art experience fees, an administrative charge, and travel and materials if applicable.