Quad City Arts Introduces New Creators For Educational Resources Project
In late October 2020, Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series launched the Educational Resources project with content from 11 professional performing artists. A dozen new artists presenting a broad selection of music, dance, theatre and visual arts are joining the project as of 
Friday, March 5, for a total of 21 artists and ensembles participating.
Quad City Arts has enlisted these performers, including a North Carolina rapper and banjo player, a former NPR “Tiny Desk Concert” contestant, and an emerging Chicago dance studio, to create videos and documents to be shared with Quad City educators and students.
This project includes arts experiences and resources that students would otherwise not have access to, such as videos on building mobiles, an introduction to Celtic music, and a string quartet program celebrating the life and legacy of Madam C. J. Walker, the first female African-American self-made millionaire in America.
The roster of artists is as follows:
- Ailie Robertson, Scottish harpist and composer
- Demeanor, rapper and banjoist
- Ephraim Bugumba, singer-songwriter
- Invoke, multi-string quartet
- Jacob D’Eustachio, professional touring juggler
- Jaerv, Swedish folk quintet
- John Driskell Hopkins, singer-songwriter and musician with Zac Brown Band
- PUBLIQuartet, string quartet
- SchoolSculptures with Kevin Reese, visual art residency program
- Skerryvore, Scottish folk/rock/pop band
- South Chicago Dance Theatre, classical/contemporary dance company
- Symbio, Swedish folk duo
Their contributions include brief demonstration videos, study guides, workshop-style videos, and more. Access to Educational Resources is FREE and open to teachers, parents, and other educators looking for supplementary arts materials and content.
Quad City Arts celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.
This collection of resources stands in for in-person educational outreaches for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, which is the 47th season of Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series. The project will continue in future seasons as a complement to in-person residency activities for school and community audiences, as well as an opportunity to improve local students’ access to the performing arts.
The Educational Resources project gives the Quad City community access to high-quality performing arts content with added flexibility. Videos are captioned in both English and Spanish. The entire season of artists in residence is available, from musicians to actors, dancers to storytellers. Teachers, students, and parents can access performing artists’ resources on any device connected to the internet, anytime, anywhere. The content is only accessible through our gateway and will be available until June 1.
It just takes a few clicks to view and use the exclusive materials from these artists. First, sign up for access at https://www.quadcityarts.com/vas-educational-resources.html. Then log in to the Visiting Artist Series Educational Resources site. Select an artist to view the posted videos and documents. Click the link to watch the video or download the written materials.
For more information, visit https://www.quadcityarts.com/vas-educational-resources.html.
Since 1974, the Visiting Artist Series has engaged Quad City residents of all ages in quality arts experiences with professional performing artists. Artists of various disciplines present demonstrations, workshops, and master classes at preK sites, elementary, intermediate, and high schools as well as college campuses and community organizations.
The Visiting Artist Series brings artists and ensembles to present educational outreach and public performance, enriching the quality of life in the Quad Cities region through the performing arts. For more information on this residency program, visit www.quadcityarts.com/vas.
Support for the Visiting Artist Series:
Quad City Arts is a nonprofit local arts agency dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts.
Quad City Arts receives significant support for the Visiting Artist Series from Regional Development Authority, Iowa Arts Council, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Scott County Regional Authority, Bechtel Charitable Trust, National Endowment of the Arts, Arts Midwest Touring Fund, The Amy Helpenstell Foundation Fund and the John J. Quail Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, Rock Island Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, Doris & Victor Day Foundation, Melvin McKay Trust, Mary Iva Gittens Knouse Trust, Moline Rotary, Rauch Family Foundation I, Kiwanis Club of Davenport, Quad City Arts PASS and Festival of Trees.
