Eye to eye: a look at two artists-in-residence in an urban after school art program

"The scope of this thesis is to examine the potential benefits artists-in-residence offer students in community based after-school art programs. This thesis looks at two artists-in-residence who participated in the same after school program in southeast Washington, D.C., between the years of 2011 and 2013. The ArtReach After School program was developed by the Corcoran Gallery of Art's community education department and serves as the basis for research contained herein. Research focuses on the ways artists' residencies benefit youth and adolescents through aiding in the development of life skills. Data was collected through personal interviews with the resident artists, program directors, and students who participated in the residency. Researchers also observed interactions between students and resident artists on field trips and classroom observations. Based on the widely accepted theories of developmental psychologists Erik Erikson and Howard Gardner, it was found that artist residencies do nurture experiences that aid in the development of life skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and peer-interaction in youth and adolescent learners. After-school art programs provide an environment suited for embracing these skills that are commonly outweighed by the need to raise test scores in traditional public schools. This thesis explores the potential of one after-school art program that has successfully implemented an artist residency program."

"Eye to eye: a look at two artists-in-residence in an urban after school art program"