Mission of Art For All Mississippi 
Art For All Mississippi (AFAMS) is a statewide nonprofit organization with the mission to promote and provide opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. Toward this mission, AFAMS’s School Teaching Artist in Residence is one of the organization’s major programs.

Purpose and Description of School Teaching Artist in Residence (STAIR) Program
The purpose of this program is to bring arts experiences to children with disabilities in the classroom setting.  Artist residencies bring professional teaching artists to Pre K–12 inclusion or special education classrooms for up to 12 hours of instruction and arts activities.

A suggested residency would be 5 to 6 two hour sessions delivered over consecutive days or weeks. 

Residencies are available in mediums such as papermaking, clay, watercolor and acrylic paints, music, and storytelling. Teaching artists are selected by AFAMS. If a participating school wishes to choose the teaching artist, its selection must be approved by AFAMS.

Goals of AFAMS School Teaching Artist in Residence Program
• Challenge, educate, and enrich children with and without disabilities with high quality inclusive arts instruction and activities.
• Provide teachers with new techniques that may be expanded in the classroom.
• Assist teachers in meeting Mississippi Art Competencies as detailed in the Mississippi Department of Education College and
Career Readiness Standards and/or goals established in Individualized Education Program (IEP) plans.

Requirements and Responsibilities of Participants in School Artist in Residence Program

Schools 
•   Complete the AFAMS application process
•   Students with disabilities must be among the classroom participants.
•   Conduct a pre-residency coordination meeting with the Teaching Artist 
•   Complete and return the School Teaching Artist in Residence teacher evaluation

Teaching Artist
•   Submit resume and portfolio to AFAMS if not already on file
•   Conduct a pre-residency coordination meeting with the Classroom Teacher
•   Complete and return artist expense form and attach all receipts for materials 
•   Complete and return the School Teaching Artist in Residence artist evaluation

AFAMS
•   Provide and pay the Teaching Artist and furnish all materials and supplies needed for the residency
•   Serve as liaison between Teaching Artist and School Contact 
•   May visit school during residency to observe program.

Application Process

Please click on the link button below to complete the application form.

.Part Two: Please tell us about your school, your students, and your plans for a AFAMS artist residency in a narrative description (2 pages maximum).

Information or Assistance

For additional information please contact us through this website’s contact form. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Art for all Mississippi Stair Teaching Artist

Chuck Galey
With a degree in Commercial Art (that’s what it was called before “Graphic Design” became popular) from Mississippi State University, an art director in advertising beckoned. Since then, Chuck has been freelancing illustrations for advertising, design and children’s publishing for over thirty-seven years. He has illustrated sixteen children’s picture books. He has been on the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist Roster and Teaching Artist Roster since 2003. He has worked with Art For All Mississippi for two years as a Teaching Artist trainer in Universal Design For Learning and Arts Integration in the classroom.