School Residencies

Looking for a program to engage your students in creativity and process art?  Now. Make. Art. has you covered!

Now. Make. Art. excels at scaffolding art experiences for students of all ages and abilities.

  • Focused on one single grade or multiple grades

  • Based on one central theme that develops over multiple visits or unique experiences each visit

  • Developed in tandem with teachers to tie themes to curriculum

  • Varied in length from 1 day to multiple weeks

  • Designed for ages 3 and up

Residences can be:

Programming can include:

  • CLAY CITY- Students envision what kind of community they want to make and each classroom adds their creations to a larger collective city.

  • The NEST- Students explore the story of a migrating, mysterious Creature that’s come to their school. Through art and storytelling, students help build the Creature’s nest, explore identity, and create a welcoming space.

  • Cardboard Invention Convention- Students engage in a design-thinking framework creating cardboard solutions to big & small problems

  • Something brand new we dream up together!

Learn more HERE

Learn more HERE

We work directly with teachers and staff to make sure programming is tailor to your students and schools needs.

By focusing on process art experiences rather than the product, students not only get the proven benefits found with art making, but build confidence, problem solving, and independent thinking. These programs are designed to help students in dreaming and envisioning the future, something desperately needed in our current world.

We’ve worked with a number of schools and organizations in the Twin Cities to provide engaging process based art programs for students. We can base programming off our existing popular events or dream up something just for you!

Now. Make. Art. works closely with school PTOs to secure funding to help bring arts to your school.

Sample Schedules:

Sample schedule 1- CLAY CITY:
3 visits with selected classrooms

  • Visit 1- Collaborative brainstorm and sketching around what our larger city can look like

  • Visit 2- Students work with clay to build their creations

  • Visit 3- Students finalize their pieces and begin adding them to the collective city

Sample schedule 2- The NEST:
3 visits with selected classrooms

  • Visit 1- Introduce students to the story of a migrating Creature and create collective maps exploring students community.

  • Visit 2- Use clues from the Creature to explore identity and build a Creature profile to help understand how we can help the Creature.

  • Visit 3- Create artwork to help the Creature finish their NEST and feel welcome.

Sample schedule 3- Cardboard Invention Convention:
4 visits with selected classrooms

  • Visit 1- Students learn about the design process and discuss historical inventions while beginning to brainstorm what they’d like to invent.

  • Visit 2- Students sketch their inventions and start prototyping their creation

  • Visit 3- Students work on bringing their ideas to life through cardboard

  • Visit 4- Students finalize inventions and hold a Convention to share their work

In Spring 2026, Now. Make. Art. participated in an evaluation of The NEST Residency.

Findings in student included:

  • 100% of observed students were actively engaged across all three residency sessions

  • 100% of surveyed students reported feeling creative during the residency

  • Students reported the residency provided a space to “experiment with artistic materials” and “collaboratively contribute ideas”

  • 100% of teachers reported students were “very engaged”

  • 100% of teachers reported believing art-based learning is valuable

  • Over 70% of teachers saw growth in collaboration skills and in listening to others’ ideas

Findings in teachers included:

Read the full report HERE