Illinois Arts Council
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The IAC recognizes the arts as a necessity in the development of Illinois students as future contributing members of society and the importance of the inclusion of the arts in lifelong learning. At the heart of the AIE Residency Program is the belief that an artist-in-residence can make an invaluable and unique contribution to the educational process. As a professional artist teaching and creating his or her art at the residency site, the artist-in-residence can inspire one classroom, one teacher, one school district, or one community to integrate the arts into its ongoing activities and become a vital part of everyone’s learning experience.
The Arts-in-Education Residency Program provides support to Illinois not-for- profit organizations for professional artist residencies lasting from two weeks to six months in one fiscal year. Grant requests for fiscal year 2013 are for activities occurring between November 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013. The dealine to apply is May 1, 2012. Past grants have supported residencies sponsored by libraries, park districts, churches, schools, school districts, colleges, universities, local arts agencies, municipalities, hospitals, community centers, youth organizations, and senior centers.
To create a focus around which the educational and civic community can work together to develop or strengthen programs in arts education.
The AIE Residency Program offers the sponsor a number of different options for working with artists-in-residence. Review the types of residencies listed below, and indicate on the application which option you will select.
An individual artist residency involves an individual artist-in-residence listed in the IAC AIE Artists Roster. The sponsor develops an application in consultation with the selected artist-in-residence and contracts with the artist for a minimum of one month and a maximum of six months.
A company residency involves a performing arts company listed in the IAC AIE Artists Roster under the disciplines of dance, interdisciplinary arts, music, and theater. The sponsor develops an application in consultation with the company and contracts with the company for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of six months. These residencies require the residency site to bring a group of at least three artists representing the selected company to teach as an ensemble. At least one company performance must be scheduled during the residency. If the performance is open to the community, it may be considered the community activity for that month. At least two artists must participate in the in-service. Company members must be at the residency site at least two days each week.
A multi-disciplinary residency involves two individual artists listed in the IAC AIE Artists Roster who collaboratively plan and execute a series of unique experiences. This option is recommended for experienced sponsors only. First-time sponsors are not eligible to apply for this residency due to the extensive planning required. These residencies are scheduled for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of six months. Highlighting the roster artists’ unique artistic perspectives, the project is designed to introduce the participants to experiences that combine two art forms in new and experimental ways. Sponsors interested in applying for this type of residency should contact IAC AIE staff well in advance of the deadline. Scheduling and artist fees should be addressed as if applying for an individual artist residency multiplied by two artists.
The established period of time that an artist- in-residence spends at a given site. IAC AIE residencies range from two weeks to six months in length.
The applicant school or organization responsible for the coordination and implementation of the residency. This may be different from the residency site. The sponsor must secure a match of at least 40% of the residency expenses.
The primary artist or company selected from the IAC AIE Artists Roster to conduct residency activities. The artist-in-residence is a professional artist recognized for his or her artistic achievement and quality of work. During the residency, the artist-in-residence works with participants as an artist teaching his or her particular discipline. The artist-in-residence role differs from the role of an art teacher employed by the school.
A professional artist who conducts residency-related activities with participants on a short-term basis. This artist may work in a discipline similar to or complementary to the artist-in-residence’s discipline and does not need to be listed in the IAC AIE Artists Roster. The guest artist may conduct a performance, workshop, lecture, or demonstration. A guest artist must participate at least once a month during the residency. Company residencies are encouraged to iclude a guest artist from outside of the artist-in-residence company.
A class-sized group of participants that meet regularly with the artist-in-residence. It will receive the majority of the artist-in-residence’s weekly contact hours.
Groups of varying sizes that meet with the artist-in-residence during each week depending on the goals and needs of the residency.
A session conducted by the artist-in- residence occurring prior to the start of residency activities and during which the artist-in-residence, faculty, staff, and committee members review the planned residency activities and goals of the project.
A workshop conducted by the artist-in- residence for residency site staff during which the artist-in-residence shares specific activities related to his or her artistic discipline. An in-service occurs at least once a month during the residency.
Activities conducted by the artist-in- residence which are targeted for community members not directly participating in the residency. These activities may involve neighboring schools, service clubs, arts organizations, libraries, or park districts and may take the form of a performance, a workshop, an exhibition, a reading, or a lecture. Community activities occur at least once a month during the residency.
The process of recording what occurred during the residency. Documentation should show all stages of the residency including planning; the artist-in-residence’s work with the core group, non-core group, community, and staff; and any final products. The final document may take the form of scrapbooks, creative writing anthologies, slide presentations, videotapes, audiotapes, DVDs, lesson plans, media coverage, or photographs accompanied by a summary of residency activities.
The process of noting observations of the residency program in order to assess the effectiveness of the residency in meeting the sponsor’s goals. Through the evaluation process, the residency objectives and/or activities can be revised to better meet the needs of all participants. Discussion, surveys, pre- and post-tests, and rubrics are all evaluation tools that may be used.
Schools and school districts interested in a short-term residency should apply to the QuickStart program. First-time applicants to the IAC are highly encouraged to apply for this grant before applying to the AIE Residency Program.
The QuickStart program is designed to support interaction with professional Illinois artists through workshops and classes sponsored by a school of school-district.
QuickStart projects can range from five to thirty contact hours within six weeks. Activities must be hands-on learning experiences and not performances, lectures, or demonstrations and serve a well-defined, consistent core group. This programs has an open deadline. Applications must be submitted to the IAC no later than eight weeks prior to the starting date of the residency. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received.