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Greenville’s Smart Arts program pairs artists and teachers for five-day residencies in 42 schools
Summary
The Metropolitan Arts Council’s Smart Arts program supports arts-integrated residencies across Greenville County, pairing teaching artists with classroom teachers for five-day units and annual professional learning.
The Metropolitan Arts Council’s Smart Arts program provides arts integration residencies in Greenville County schools, pairing teaching artists with classroom teachers for curriculum-aligned residencies and professional development.
Kimberly Gibbs, director of arts education and Smart Arts manager, said the program began in 2003 and now operates in 42 Greenville County schools. Gibbs said last year Smart Arts worked with about 71 teachers and provided professional learning for about 85 teachers; the program typically deploys five-day residencies and maintains a roster of teaching artists who receive ongoing training.
Gibbs described the program’s model: each summer Smart Arts coordinates a training where teaching artists and participating teachers plan units together and teaching artists receive roughly 12 hours of professional development annually. Schools pay a nominal $25 registration fee per teacher; the Metropolitan Arts Council raises the remainder of residency funds through grants and fundraising so residencies are free to public schools.
Examples Gibbs offered included pottery projects tied to character development in language arts, mural projects that build community engagement, and music or movement residencies that reinforce math and soft skills. Gibbs recommended teaching artists develop two “master lessons” they can teach repeatedly and emphasized that noncertified teaching artists should not be left alone in classrooms without a certified teacher present.
Gibbs said Smart Arts currently works with about 22 teaching artists and stressed the program’s priority of retaining artists by creating consistent local work opportunities that supplement artists’ own practices. She posted blog links and lesson-plan templates in the webinar chat for teaching artists seeking examples or training materials.
Gibbs encouraged local teaching artists to contact their county arts councils, large performance venues and local cultural centers for opportunities if their area lacks a formal arts council.
