Schools
For over forty years we have been working with schools on creative arts projects that practice professional art techniques, build connections with classroom curriculum, and explore global history and cultural diversity. We have a roster of over 100 artists who work in diverse artistic disciplines. Begin your search of our artist roster here.
We publish an annual anthology of student writing from our residency work throughout Minnesota.
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Arts Education Programs
COMPAS Arts Education offers residencies, performances, workshops, professional development sessions, and exhibits. Feel free to contact our helpful staff at any time to discuss possibilities or schedule a program. Check out an overview of COMPAS Arts Education here.
Find our arts education program options below.
Residency
A residency provides an opportunity for teachers and students to work alongside a professional artist who acts as a guide through the creative process and connects with themes and learning areas already familiar to students. Residencies begin with a planning meeting where your program will be created to complement and enrich existing curriculum and to meet specific goals or learning standards.
Search residency options on our Artist Roster. Find an artist's residency description in their COMPAS artist roster page.
Check out our Prices and Policies Page to learn more about residency models and prices.
Performance
Performances are for groups of 300 audience members or less. They introduce students to an art form through a balance of demonstration and interaction. Live performances give audiences the opportunity to learn about unique and cultures. Our artists come from around the world, and are excited to share their culture through music, dance and presentation. Many programs provide study guides with background and preparation information, artist biographies and resources for further information. Some performances also have companion workshops.
Performance prices are listed on our Artist Roster. Find an artist's performance description and prices in their COMPAS artist roster page.
Workshop
Workshops are for groups of no more than 30 participants. They enable students to become more involved in the creative process and connect with other learning. During a workshop, students work closely with professional artists to discover their own artistic potential in an active learning situation.
Search workshop options on our Artist Roster. Find an artist's workshop description in their COMPAS artist roster page.
Check out our Prices and Policies Page to learn more about workshop prices.
Exhibits: Real Art + Real Kids
Our innovative exhibit program brings museum quality art into your school for an up close, in-depth visual arts learning experience. A group of students is selected by teachers receive training at one of our museum partner locations to become docents (peer teachers), who share their knowledge of the artwork with their classmates, teachers, parents, and other community members. Each exhibit is installed on portable panels that fit classrooms, libraries or other school spaces.
Search exhibits on our Artist Roster.
Professional Development for Educators
Some artists offer professional develop sessions designed to share skills, teach hands-on arts activities, and provide models for arts learning across the curriculum. Given the diversity and scope of our roster, we can also help schools design professional development experiences that address your unique staff goals. Professional development sessions may be conducted for groups of teachers, curriculum teams, or one-on-one.
Search professional development options on our Artist Roster.
Check out our Prices and Policies Page to learn more about professional development workshop prices.
Why book an artist through COMPAS?
COMPAS artists go through an involved application process to participate on our roster. Not only do artists submit professional resumes and work samples, but a panel comprised of teachers, artists and students interview them to ensure that the provide professional, creative experience to your program. Staff reconsider existing artists annually and invite them to sign a new contract at the beginning of each school year.
- Each artist or lead artist has a background check done bi-annually.
- Artists are visited on site by staff throughout the year to monitor their approach and to provide feedback on their program.
- When you book through us, we handle all the paperwork and the payment to the artist—making your job much simpler and less time-consuming.
- COMPAS has insurance that covers each artist while they are at your site.
