Massachusetts: STARS Residencies

For many state arts agencies, underwriting artist residencies in K-12 schools has long been an effective way to support statewide arts education. The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) builds on that model through its STARS Residencies program (Students and Teachers Working with ARtists, Scientists, and Scholars). Awarding grants of $500 – $5,000, the program enables schools—public, private, independent or parochial—to work with cultural partners for at least three days of creative teaching and learning. Multiple artists, scientists, or scholars may participate in a single residency as long as they collaborate on the same project with the same students. After-school residencies are also eligible. By connecting classrooms with artists and bright minds from the sciences and the humanities, MCC is working toward realizing its Creative Minds Initiative, an effort to ensure that all Massachusetts children have access to and opportunity for high-quality, creative learning experiences. MCC reports that it had to double the funding for the program—raising it to more than $700,000—in fiscal year 2014 to meet the strong interest in the program. Find out more from MCC Creative Youth Development Program Manager Diane Daily.