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.

OUR TEACHING ARTISTS

Marquis Studios employs 90 professional teaching artists whom specialize in a variety of disciplines. If you are interested in becoming a Teaching Artist visit our careers page.

  • Deborah Dawson

    Deborah comes from a creative background that includes fine arts, dance, film production and post-production and helped develop the Laser Painting Program currently growing within the NYC District 75 school system. The Laser Painting Program allows individuals with limited mobility- yet the cognitive ability to make decisions- to produce large abstract expressionist paintings by directing a head or hand mounted laser dot onto a canvas that a tracker then follows. All decisions are ultimately made by the artist- from the brush sizes, color choices, and when a painting is completed. The Laser Painting Program recently had a booth at the NYC Disabilities Pride Parade, a spring celebration at the Studio Museum in Harlem, and has other exciting collaborations unfolding. Deborah is delighted to be joining the team of Marquis Studios teaching artists.

  • Graham Doby

    Graham Doby is drummer/composer living in New York City. He is a regularly performing musician and has played and shared the stage with many reputable artists such as George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Trombone Shorty, Antibalas and The Impressions. He has played many reputable venues including The Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Bowl, and the Lincoln Theater. TheWashington City Paper described his drumming as “tremendously agile with a general mainstream sound.” In addition to his many different musical projects, Doby also has a strong passion for teaching. He teaches group classes as well as privately and always enjoys sharing his love and knowledge of music to students eager to learn. Graham has been a Marquis Studios teaching artist since 2015.

  • Dawn Drake

    Dawn Drake is a singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. She has studied in West Africa, Cuba and Brazil and plays Bass, Congas and Afro-Cuban and Brazilian percussion with many artists in New York. She is most known for her band “Dawn Drake & ZapOte” an original “world beat meets samba and funk ensemble” who plays for music and dance loving crowds throughout the east coast, Europe and beyond. Dawn has been a Marquis Studios teaching artist since 2014.