Artist Stories

Community

Artist Stories

ArtistCorps provides arts-based service in under-resourced Title 1 schools and community centers as part of UNCSA's commitment to sparking a lifetime of creative thinking, innovative problem-solving, and powerful self-expression with our communities.

Here, ArtistCorps members share stories of their service.

Recent Stories

The Flower Dance

During one of my services at Moore Elementary School, I was getting ready to teach our third grade class a new dance about the phases of flower growth. This was my first time introducing phrase work to this class so I was unsure about how it would go.

Making a Difference

Even after just a few weeks of teaching violin to Pre-K students, violinist Marina Zimmermann has noticed increased focus and capacity to learn among her students.

Happy Birthday to Sally

Domantas Karalius, a D&P graduate student, serves with the Music Between Us program at the Williams Adult Day Center, engaging with through music with people with dementia. On Sally's 95th birthday, he took a moment to reflect on how her positivity and enthusiasm has inspired him.

Bad Kids

All kids have unlimited potential. Madeline Burgin has learned that it takes compassion and empathy to help them realize that potential.

Feelings of Accomplishment

Through her ArtistCorps service, Kayla Cieslak, a flute performance graduate student, loves the challenge of finding ways to meet the needs of her students and, ultimately, celebrating their small and large accomplishments.

Little Gurus: Kindergarten's Practice of Mindfulness

Filmmaker Madeline Burgin is learning that kindergartners' boundary testing is teaching her about mindfulness! Just be present!

Opera for five-seven year olds

The Arts Integration team brought the book "Room on the Broom" to life for kindergartners and first graders with an opera-like performance. D&P student, Isabella Tapia, utilized her stage manager skills to transform a media center into an opera stage, managed all the props and costumes, and ensured a smooth performance that was well-received by the six and seven-year old audience!

With the Adults at the Day Center

Collaborative piano graduate student, Clara Passmore, loves the interactions with the many different individuals she serves at the Williams Adult Day Center. It's especially meaningful when she makes a connection with someone who is not normally very engaged.

It's the Small Things

A playful moment while standing in line with her class of first graders reminds Alex Partridge that the students are retaining important concepts that the arts integration team has presented over these past few months.