ArtistCorps celebrates a decade of arts service in Winston-Salem

The Office of Community Engagement at UNCSA is commemorating 10 years of ArtistCorps, a community engagement program which utilizes the skills of UNCSA students to provide arts instruction, integration and exposure to school-aged children and seniors in the Winston-Salem community.

Since its inception in 2014, ArtistCorps has become an integral part of the Winston-Salem community and includes several signature programs, such as The Wolf Method, a pre-phonics arts integration program designed to support high-need pre-K students; the Drama Residency, which integrates drama and English language arts at Diggs-Latham Elementary; the Vivaldi Project, which offers music and violin instruction to preschool classrooms; and Music Between Us, which connects college Music students with individuals living with dementia through interactive music-making.

To date, 193 ArtistCorps members have provided more than 87,000 hours of arts-based service at 52 sites, engaging more than 10,000 children, youth and older adults through immersive arts experiences.

A man teaches the violin to a young boy.

Violinist José Sequeira with a Diggs-Latham student / Photo: Amanda Gordon

“The numbers tell part of the story,” said Rebecca Nussbaum, ArtistCorps program director and School of Music alumna. “But the qualitative impact — the connections, the joy, the purpose — it’s immeasurable. Every ArtistCorps interaction has a ripple effect far beyond the moment.”

A celebration of service on May 6, held at the UNCSA Library, brought together current ArtistCorps student members, alumni, service site partners and educators to reflect on the program’s decade-long impact.

Joshua Forbes, a School of Music graduate student and multi-year ArtistCorps veteran, spoke about his work with the Vivaldi Project.

“These kids only get five minutes of one-on-one lesson time, once or twice a week, but they accomplish extraordinary things,” Forbes said. “We’re not just teaching music; we’re connecting with humanity. Watching them develop confidence in something they never thought they could do — that’s transformative. It's also very cute.”

The program’s footprint also extends deeply into local schools. Amanda Gordon, the A+ and Magnet coordinator at Diggs-Latham Elementary, was part of the initial pilot and has witnessed the partnership’s evolution.

A diverse group of children and adults stands together in front of a classroom, smiling and engaged in conversation.

UNCSA ArtistCorps members with Diggs-Latham Elementary students / Photo: Amanda Gordon

“We cannot imagine our program without ArtistCorps,” Gordon said. “From violin instruction for pre-K to collaborative drama residencies, their members have become an essential part of our school family. They’re role models, teachers, and even wedding guests truly woven into our community.”

The community-based partnerships extend the reach of ArtistCorps beyond classrooms, creating meaningful connections through the arts and have created lasting intergenerational bonds.

“Our participants may struggle with memory loss, but when the music starts, something magical happens,” said Cynthia Becker, program coordinator at Senior Services Elizabeth and Tab Williams Adult Day Center. “ArtistCorps members bring joy, purpose and new memories into their lives.”

This year, the Music Between Us program featured an ArtistCorps team of School of Filmmaking and Music students, who worked together to create a documentary film that showcased the powerful impact of music on memory and the meaningful connections formed between the students and the elderly.

“It started off as a short five-minute video, but as we got to know all the participants and the elderly at the center, we realized what a beautiful magic happens there,” said Karolina Sandecka, a fourth-year directing student. “The connection between memory and music, and how it brings happiness to those who might otherwise seem distant. I was blessed to see that and work on this documentary.”

“I was so invested in seeing how they connected with the music. It was just so heartwarming,” shared Harrison Johnson, a second-year Filmmaking student. “I hope there will be more connection between film and ArtistCorps in the future, creating beautiful memories and videos.”

From classrooms to care centers, the students’ experiences underscore the mission of ArtistCorps to build meaningful relationships through the arts while fostering personal and artistic growth in a variety of community settings.

“ArtistCorps has shown me that it’s more than just going in and teaching kids’ music,” Forbes said. “It’s about connection and growth — for them and for us.”

Partner sites for ArtistCorps have included public schools such as Ashley Academy, Diggs-Latham Elementary School, East Forsyth Middle School, Easton Elementary School, Mineral Springs Elementary and Middle schools, Moore Elementary School, Konnoak Middle School, Paisley Magnet School, R.J. Reynolds High School and Wiley Magnet Middle School, as well as community organizations such as Mount Zion Child Development Center and Senior Services.

For more information about ArtistCorps, visit uncsa.edu/artistcorps.

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May 21, 2025