The Artist in Residence program provides the unique opportunity for a highly trained and highly professional local artist to come to the applicant’s school and work directly with their students in an arts enrichment program.  This program is for 3^rd graders . At DCES, the program typically lasts four weeks with a final show open to the public at the conclusion of the program.  A core group of students receive the majority of the artist lessons. This year, each third grade class receives ten lessons.  Each non core grade (K-5, excluding 3rd grade) recieves one lesson.  The lessons enrich student learning as they tie to the Arizona State Standards for Arts Education.

DIANE KUHLER is the parent volunteer who has worked closely with a team of teachers to determine the nature of the program. Diane has written and submitted a grant application to the Arizona Commission on the Arts whereby the program was made possible by a competitive grant awarded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts with further support by the National Endowment for the Arts to DCES.   Interviews were conducted by the Diane and the Teacher Team to determine the artist, along with all necessary budgeting and scheduling for the program being completed for this Fall’s – Artist in Residence.