Young Audiences’ Arts Lab Announces 20-Day Artist Residencies in New Jersey Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT:
Michael Roberson Reid
Arts Education Manager
609.243.9000 ext. 219
[email protected] 

Princeton, NJ. September 23, 2024: Young Audiences is pleased to announce 15 long-term artist residencies in schools throughout the state of New Jersey, a critical component of YA’s Arts Lab initiative. These participating schools applied in spring of 2024 and were chosen for their creative vision and ability to sustain long-term artist residencies. 

Residencies will take place in-person during the school day and include art forms such as sculpture, music composition, storytelling, step dance and more. These Young Audiences Arts Lab grants place professional teaching artists in the classroom for a long-term (10-days or more) residencies. Residencies are customized for grade level and arts discipline, and include workshops for students, professional development for teachers, a culminating event to engage the school community, and a reflection day for students to reflect on their achievements. This program is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.  

Participating schools are:  

  • Discovery Charter School – Essex County (Musical Theatre with Jarrod Scott, 20-Days) 
  • Elizabeth Haddon School – Camden County (Puppetry with Hua Hua Zhang, 20-Days)      
  • Farmingdale School – Monmouth County (Sculpture, Teaching Artist TBD, 20-Days)   
  • Friends School Mullica Hill – Gloucester County (Mosaic Mural with Gail Scuderi, 23-Days)  
  • Hawkins Street School – Essex County (Capoeira with Leigh Robertson, 20-Days)  
  • John P. Holland Charter School – Passaic County (Musical Theatre with Jarrod Scott, 20-Days)  
  • Mannington Township School – Salem County (Sculpture with Gail Scuderi, 20-Days)  
  • McNair Academic High School – Hudson County (Theatre, Teaching Artist TBD, 20-Days)  
  • Middle Township High School – Cape May County (Sculpture with Gail Scuderi, 20-Days)  
  • Paramus Catholic High School – Bergen County (Music Composition with Glenn McClure, 20-Days)  
  • Pride Academy Charter School – Essex County (Storytelling with Queen Nur, 20-Days) 
  • Quinton Township School – Salem County (Puppetry, Teaching Artist TBD, 20-Days)  
  • Seth Boyden Elementary School – Essex County (Step Dance with Maxine Lyle, 20-Days)   
  • Spring Garden School – Essex County (Theatre with Renata Townsend, 20-Days)  
  • Vineland High School South – Cumberland County (Mural with Gail Scuderi, 23-Days) 

“We are grateful that the New Jersey State Council on the Arts has made it possible for us to reach more New Jersey schools and students with long-term artist in residence programs,” says President and CEO of Young Audiences Michele Russo. “Guided by the innovation and creativity of our teaching artists, collaborating teachers and students, we are prepared for an exciting school year!” 

“The New Jersey State Council on the Arts understands the value of long-term, teaching artist-led residencies. Teaching artists provide a meaningful connection between existing arts curricula and classroom educators, while uplifting student voice and choice,” says Samantha Clarke, Program Officer for Arts Education and Lifelong Learning at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. “The State Arts Council also recognizes that the cost on schools may be a barrier to access, which is one of the reasons we’re excited to support Young Audiences’ Arts Lab for the 2024 – 2025 school year. We look forward to seeing what the students will create with their teaching artists.” 

 

Young Audiences is now accepting applications from schools who would like to receive free, teaching artist-led programing through Arts Lab. The deadline is October 18, 2024. For more information, see https://www.yanjep.org/arts-lab/.