ABOUT US
Marquis Studios is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing arts-in‐education services to 170 New York City public schools annually. We strive to develop a strong partnership between artists and teachers by providing arts programs to supplement traditional classroom teaching techniques. Each residency or workshop focuses on a specific visual or performing arts discipline selected by school staff and administration.
Founded in 1977, Marquis Studios has served over 500,000 students, 28,000 teachers and 18,000 parents at schools throughout New York City. Working with a diverse population, 80% of programs serve students living at or below the poverty line with over 50% of all grant-funded programming serving classrooms containing with disabilities.
Marquis Studios Offers:
- Programming consisting of ten-week arts residencies taught by our staff of trained teaching artists.
- A full spectrum of arts residencies that encourage student exploration of visual arts, theatre, music, dance architecture, circus arts and puppetry.
- Custom designed programs to meet the educational goals set by the school through collaboration with Marquis Studios and classroom teachers.
- Programs that address New York State Learning Standards, both in the arts and academic areas.
- Professional development for classroom teachers to provide arts education techniques and concepts that can be brought back to the classroom.
- Parent/Child Workshops that help parents understand the connection between arts and academics while providing a fun, hands‐on experience parents and children can share.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Marquis Studios administrative staff is comprised of thirteen employees with occasional help from interns and volunteers.
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Amy Appleton
Director of Education
Amy Appleton has been an active member of the NYC arts education community since 2011. Prior to joining Marquis Studios in 2016, Amy worked in the education departments of Free Arts NYC; CITYarts in NYC; Creative Alliance in Baltimore, MD where she served a year in AmeriCorps; and ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, PA. Amy is a visual artist (painting and mosaics) and musician (flute, harp, and handbells). She has 10 years of experience as a visual arts teaching artist with youth and families in schools, community centers, museums and faith-based organizations. Amy has led professional development workshops with the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable, Columbia University Teacher’s College, Materials for the Arts, Partnership for After-School Education and the US Society of Education through Art. Amy has her BA in Studio Art and Spanish from Muhlenberg College, her MA in Community Arts from MICA and is a graduate of the NYFA Emerging Leaders Program.
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Ryan Berg
Data Manager
Ryan has been a proud member of the Marquis Studios team since 2012. He loves international travel, roller coasters and writing. An Army veteran, he is originally from Seattle, where he graduated from the University of Washington before relocating to New York. Ryan has a background in music – he plays guitar and has toured North America with his own bands, and as tour support for other acts. He has worked extensively as a stage manager for Cardone, the Ultimate Vaudeville Magician. He has been a house manager at Manhattan Repertory Theatre. Ryan is currently stage-managing a developing musical, written by James Franco and David Van Asselt. Ryan is a writer and actor at Studio 4 NYC, where he has spent the summer in a filmmaking masterclass taught by James Franco.
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Chris Forte
Education Liaison
Chris’ role is to work directly with each school’s staff to determine the optimal support that Marquis Studios can provide the school’s Art Education program. He had a successful business career over 32 years with Hallmark Cards 8 as the Regional Manager for the Eastern US. He led a field organization of over 1,000 people in a variety of roles and worked with senior management of major retailer such as Walgreens, CVS and Walmart Stores. He is a native New Yorker, born and raised in the Yankee Stadium neighborhood of the Bronx. He comes from an education‐based family with his Dad being a NYC Teacher/Guidance Counselor for 50 years and Mom an Art Teacher. As a rabid Baseball fan, he often dreams of roaming the outfield of Yankee Stadium with his hero Mickey Mantle. He and his wife Miyoko currently live in Bayside, Queens.