Each school system in the Triangle offers programs that provide or supplement arts education to students by inviting artists into the schools to teach or perform. It can be confusing, however, for artists interested in participating in Artists in the Schools programs to figure out each program’s objectives, guidelines, and application procedures.
In this section, Triangle ArtWorks summarizes the Artists in the Schools programs in each school district as of October 2014. We strive to keep this information up to date, but as changes can be swift or subtle, please check with each school district for current information. The information provided below should only be used as a guide and reference. As always, if you have any changes, additions, or corrections to this information, send us an email!
The Chatham County Artists in the Schools program is currently inactive. It will resume in Fall 2015.
Coordinating Organization:
Durham Arts Council
120 Morris Street, Durham, NC 27701
Website
Contact Information:
Shana Adams: Manager, Creative Arts in the Schools (CAPS)
Email,
Phone, (919) 560-2718
General Program Description
Creative Arts in the Public/Private Schools (CAPS) is a partnership between Durham Arts Council and Durham Public Schools that places professional artists in public and private classrooms throughout Durham, Orange, and Granville counties. The CAPS program consists of two tracks, the Education-Based Track and the Community-Based Track.
Application information
Key Points about the application process:
Coordinating Organization
Johnston County Arts Council
Physical Address:
1115 Outlet Center Drive
Smithfield, NC 27577
Mailing Address:
PO Box 2019
Smithfield, NC 27577
Website
Contact person:
Darlene Williford, Executive Director
Email (919) 938-0306
General Program Description
The Johnston County Artists in the Schools program is a partnership between the Johnston County Arts Council and the Johnston County Schools. The Johnston County Artists-in-the-Schools Program is modeled on the Artists in the Schools (AIS) program of the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and is supported in part by services provided by United Arts. Artists are selected for the program from the Directory of Artists created by United Arts, so artists interested in participating in the Johnston County Artists in Schools program should submit applications to the United Arts Council AIS program (see Wake County entry below).
Coordinating Organization:
Chapel Hill Public and Cultural Arts Office
Parks and Recreation Building, 200 Plant Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Website
Contact information:
Jeff York: Public and Cultural Arts Administrator
Jeff York, Email, (919) 968-2750
General Program Description
The Chapel Hill Public and Cultural Arts Office hosts an annual Public Artist in Residence program in collaboration with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro public schools. This program provides students with opportunities to work with professional artists, as well as create original works for their schools and community. Eleven Artist-in-Residence programs have been held in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District since 2002. These residencies aim to enrich young people, their families, and the community through exposure to art and artists; enhance the awareness of the arts as a profession; and help young people’s team-building and problem-solving skills while giving them an outlet for creative expression.
Application information:
A specific class at a Chapel Hill-Carrboro school is selected to host the residency each year. An artist is then matched with the class through a competitive application process. The artist works with the students through a 10 session residency that integrates the art project with the students’ educational plan. The resulting work remains on display at the school and becomes part of the Town of Chapel Hill’s Public Art Collection.
Key points about the application process:
Additional Coordinating Organization
The Arts Center
300-G East Main Street
Carrboro, NC 27510
Website
Contact Information:
Jillian Lea, School and Family Programs Coordinator , Email.
Overview:
The ArtsCenter Residency program works with Orange County schools, both public and private, upon request from the school, to create residencies that “find ways to integrate the arts to achieve the common core curriculum goals by presenting the subject matter in new and different ways.” ArtsCenter has two types of residencies:
Application Information:
Coordinating Organization:
United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County
110 S. Blount Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Website
Contact Person:
Reagen Carlile: Vice President for Education & Community Programs
Email, (919) 839-1498 x 210
General Program Description
The Artists in the Schools (AIS) Program is a collaboration among the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, the Wake County Public School System, and local schools. For more than 30 years, the AIS Program has placed teaching artists in public, private, and charter schools in Wake County. These artists and arts organizations work as creative educational resources with faculty, students, and cultural arts representatives to implement curriculum-based arts in education programs.
Application information:
Key points about the application process:
Individual Wake County schools book artists by using the Artist Directory and, often, with the help of grants provided by United Arts. Booking is done by school Cultural Arts Representatives, which can be parents/PTA members or school staff. For more on the Cultural Arts Representative side of booking artists, see here. United Arts holds a Cultural Arts Booking Fair, usually in August, where artists can promote their work through performance or information booths. This Cultural Arts Booking Fair is often attended by other organizations or municipal agencies in the Region interested in booking artists/performers, so can be a great opportunity to have your work seen by a variety of people.