28 January 2009

wondering about artist residencies in elementary schools

I wonder what would evolve if an artist were to be resident in an elementary school for an entire year. If they were required to attend staff meetings and participate in the administrative ecology of the school. If they were asked to spend a decent amount of time observing and getting to know the school - a month, say - and then they worked with the teachers and the students to evolve programs, or supplement and fortify things happening in the school. What if they were required to live in the neighborhood? What if they were always trying to get invited over for dinner? Would a figure who shuttles between the public officialdom of the school and the private world of the family be valuable, useful, fun, interesting, worth the effort? Anyone know of people who have done that?