Diane Daily, Program Manager
Schools and teaching artists/humanists/scientists remain dedicated to creative learning, even during this most challenging school year. As a testament to their resiliency, Mass Cultural Council is pleased to award more than $722,450 in STARS Residencies grants to 163 schools across the Commonwealth for the 2020-2021 school year.
These STARS Residencies will bring creative learning to more than 11,700 students across the state. They will also provide work for more than 90 teaching artists, scientists, and humanists, many of whom have been facing difficult times since the pandemic began.
The range of residencies that schools and cultural partners will be providing for students during these unprecedented times are as rich as any other school year. Some examples include:
- Students in Petersham will be storytelling and singing with master storyteller John Porcino.
- Cape Cod students will learn outdoors each season with Mass Audubon.
- Students in Springfield will take year-long instrumental lessons with teachers from the Community Music School of Springfield.
- English language learning high schoolers in Boston will write and perform original plays in English with Company One theater artists.
- 4th graders in North Adams will explore ways to amplify indigenous voices through art-making with Crow-heritage artist Wendy Red Star through Mass MoCA.
In describing her residency, ceramicist Julie Peck captures the spirit of all this year’s STARS residencies best: “Through cooperation, flexibility, and compromise, [students will create] pieces to permanently remind … all who enter the building in coming years how together we create and share light even in dark times.”