Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
If you are new to the AIS program the following topics may answer some of your questions. If you have further questions, or need more clarification, please contact Deb Sether, AIS Coordinator, at the Art Station.mural from Buckingham Elementary School, Bend, OR made with artist Deb Fisher
Common questions include:
What do teaching artists bring to my school?
What is a standard residency?
How do I bring an AIS Artist to my school?
How do I plan a residency?
What is the cost of a residency?
What are the expectations for the classroom teacher?
Can we create a custom residency?
What Do Our Teaching Artists Bring to Your Students?
• A set of Residency Goals that will help support student growth and achievement
• Honing creative thinking skills and hand-eye coordination
• Discovering hidden artistic talents
• Helping them to tap into the creative, right side of their brains
• Accessing different learning styles to enhance academic learning
• Helping meet the
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What is a Standard Residency?
In a standard one week (20-hr.) residency, the artist works with four to six classrooms each day for 50-60 minutes, preferably longer. Classroom maximum size is 35 students. The 20-hour residency must include a pre-residency planning meeting and sufficient time for the artist to travel between classrooms and for clean-up. Any additional student assemblies and culminating events (exhibit, parade, performance) must be included in the 20 hours.
If more hours are required, additional fees will be charged at $38/hour. Please be aware that clay residencies require more out-of-class time to move student work, fire the kiln, etc. and this time must be included in residency hours.
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How Do I Bring an AIS Residency Artist to My School?
• Review the AIS Artist Directory to select an artist to meet your needs.
• Fill out the AIS Application and send it to us to start the process, or
• Contact Deb Sether, AIS Coordinator, if you have unanswered questions.
• Plan your residency.
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How Do I Plan a Residency?
• Select a planning group to discuss ideas for a residency (teachers, administrators, and/or parents).• Review the On-site Coordinator Checklist and Classroom Teacher Requirements.
• Appoint an on-site coordinator who will be an effective leader. This is an important choice for creating a successful residency experience for all. The coordinator serves as the liaison between the artist and faculty, administrators, parent volunteers, and PTA; plans the residency with the artist; and is the “go-to” person for the artist.
• Select an Artist. Review the AIS Artist Instructor Directory and select one (or more) artist(s) and two (or more) date choices. Select 1st and 2nd choice for each residency. Residencies are available on a first come-first served basis. Some artists are very popular and their schedules fill early. Please have a second choice option available.
• Teacher In-service Training is encouraged during the residency. The artist can train teachers in their specific media for integration in the classroom curriculum.
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What Does a AIS Residency Cost?
• $750 -- Standard residency (20-hour week)
• $650 -- each additional week with same artist
• $40/week -- Less than 20-hour week. Custom residencies can be any combination of hours or weeks that fits in with your schedule.
• $750 + $33/hour -- More than a Standard 20-hour week.
• $75 - Scholarships are available to Title I schools on a limited basis (school pays 10%)
• Many schools rely on their parent associations to help raise the funds to pay for an artist residency.
• Arts Central provides 25% of the actual residency cost by raising funds through donations and grants to pay for administrative costs.
• Residency payment is due at Art Central one month prior to the scheduled start of a residency.
•The site is responsible for the cost of supplies. Additionally, for out-of-town artists, lodging and one round-trip/week mileage charge at 50¢/mile, is also paid by the site. Many (not all) artists are willing to do a "home-stay" at out of town locations. This needs to be negotiated with the individual artist.
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What Are Expectations For the Classroom Teachers?
• Teachers must remain in the classroom (State law) and actively participate and manage the students. We recommend arranging for parent or adult volunteers for additional assistance, especially for classes with over 24 students.
• Provide name tags for students.
• Prepare students in advance for the residency. This might include a discussion of the art project, the artist, and the art form being taught.
• Upon completion of the residency, each participating teacher should complete a Residency Evaluation Form distributed by the site coordinator. The site coordinator will return all evaluations to AIS Coordinator at Arts Central.
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Can We Create a Custom Residency?
We can help you design a custom residency to meet your students’ needs. Possibilities include creating a multi-disciplinary residency specifically geared to your lesson plans or customizing a dramatic production or play for your curriculum.
More or less than one week—You can have an individual artist for additional weeks. You can also condense five days into three to four longer days to better accommodate an out-of-town artist or to facilitate scheduling.
Small schools— Because of a small student population, a school may use the 20 hours to increase the amount of time an artist works with students for a more intensive learning experience. You can also use some artist hours for a teacher in-service.
Larger schools— We strongly recommend limiting the amount of classrooms an artist visits in one week. The more time the artist spends with students, the more effective and significant the residency will be. If you want more than four classrooms to have an artist, then consider adding additional weeks. If you can afford only one week, you can serve a particular grade(s) each year and students will rotate into that grade in subsequent years.
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