Special Programs

Early Childhood Program

Long Term Program

Visual Arts Blueprint Collaborative Community Program

Professional Development Programs

Partnerships & Collaborations

Artful Learning

Long Term Program

Program Description
In the Long Term Program, the original program of Studio in a School, a professional artist works in a school for two to five years. The artist focuses on making art an integral part of every student's education. The program includes art instruction for students, professional development for teachers, and a parent workshop to involve families in children's creative learning experiences. During co-planning sessions, the artist works with teachers to link studio experiences with classroom studies. Lessons in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and sculpture are planned sequentially and taught in the workshop model, engaging students in a demonstration period, work time, and discussion at the end of the session.

Phases of Program
The Long-Term Program is designed as a two-phase program. Phase One starts with full-time residency (4 days per week) during the first two years. Teachers participate in their students' studio classes, continue co-planning with the artist and attend professional development workshops conducted by the artist. Teachers share in their students' excitement about creating art and discover ways to integrate classroom lessons with studio projects. They gain familiarity with an artist's materials, tools and techniques.

With Phase Two, the artist still works with every class, but is only in the school part time. During this phase, the students begin an activity with the artist and classroom teachers present follow-up lessons the next week, guided by frequent consultations with the artist. Under the artist's guidance, teachers develop the confidence and ability to conduct art lessons and to extend art into the everyday curriculum. This gradual shifting of responsibility is Studio in a School's way of ensuring that the art studio will have a life beyond the artist's tenure.

NEW: Credentialing Component
Schools selected for the Long Term Program can opt to participate in a special component that provides a professional visual artist with an MFA degree who is participating in STUDIO's Long Term Certification Component. Artists remain in the school site for the two years of the full time Phase One of the program while they are completing requirements for NYS K-12 visual art certification. At the end of Phase One, STUDIO encourages the school to hire the artist as a full-time art cluster teacher. If a position is not feasible for some reason, the artist is free to seek an alternate position and the school can move into the part-time phase of the program (years 3-5) with a different artist.

Opportunities for Establishing a Long Term Studio
Although turnover is small, we do encourage new applicants. STUDIO strives to reach as many schools as possible in New York City's five boroughs, and geographic spread is a prime consideration in looking at possible grantees. School-wide commitment to the program is also a key criterion in the selection of sites. The school must designate one classroom (with a sink) as the permanent art studio. The school must provide a studio assistant (paraprofessional or school aid). The school must also make a contribution (approximately 20% of the operating costs) to the program. Teachers agree to participate in school sessions and workshops and integrate art into the daily classroom experience. Principals agree to help make the studio a vital center of creativity. The careful selection of sites and the long-term relationship that STUDIO forms with the schools are critical factors in the program's success in achieving a lasting impact on the learning environment.

The Long Term Program currently serves 9,250 students, 25 artists, and 405 parents at 25 different sites.


Contact
STUDIO welcomes site recommendations or applications for the Long Term Program. In collaboration with the Regional Arts Supervisor, interested schools should contact the Long Term Program Coordinator, Westside Art Studio, 75 West End Avenue, NY, NY 10023. Tel: 212-459-1455 x 221.

Click here for details on school eligibility for the Long Term program.

Click here to download a Long Term school application.