Program overview
The Mountain Arts Program (MAP) places artists from the western region of the state in schools for week-long residencies with up to five groups of students, who are given a hands-on, sequential arts experience. WAANC reviews the roster of artists each year to maintain both educational and artistic quality and to add new artists to the roster as well. The current roster consists of about three dozen artists and encompasses everything from drama to pottery, creative writing to mask-making, visual art to music, photography to creative movement, and much more.
How artists can participate
Artists who have prepared programs for week-long, hands-on residencies in schools can apply to be included on the MAP artist roster. Applications are generally taken in the spring of each year, and WAANC members review the new applicants in an interview process, usually in June or July. The updated artist roster is then shared with schools at the beginning of each school year. During a MAP residency an artist works with five classes a day, for five days a week so that students get a total of five contact hours with the artist. The artist will have developed a lesson for each of the five days, giving students and interactive, hands-on experience with their art form. Some residencies may build towards a culminating “informance” or “sharing” where students perform or show what they have learned (for example: a puppet residency might end with a puppet show featuring the students’ puppets in skits the students have written under the guidance and direction of the MAP artist that week).
Please note: being included on the MAP artist roster does not insure the artist will be engaged for any specific amount of work during the school year. Each participating arts council and their partner school systems administer the program differently in whichever way best suits the needs of their schools and communities; but the schools and/or arts councils will request work from artists as needed.
If you are interested in applying for inclusion on the MAP artist roster, contact Mountain Arts Program representative Jenny Quinn at the Transylvania Community Arts Council, 828-884-2787 or download the forms below.
- 2007 MAP Press Release (PDF)
- 2007 MAP Application Form (PDF)
How arts organizations can participate
Organizations who wish to participate in the MAP program must be current, dues-paying members of WAANC (please see page on How to Join) and must additionally pay the MAP participation dues each year—currently $100.00, payable to the treasurer at the start of the fiscal year. Members will then receive access to the MAP artist roster on this website. Additionally, members must pay $25.00 for each week a MAP artist is engaged in their community.
Block Booking
Block-booking allows WAANC members to bring artists to the area (for performances and workshops in their schools and communities) they might not ordinarily be able to afford on their own by coordinating tour dates with others in the area, allowing for a better negotiation of fees due to larger number of days contracted.
Contact the WAANC member in charge of block booking (please see the Contact Us page) for more information on how you as an arts organization can participate in block booking.