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.
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Ellen Fisher
Ellen Fisher is an interdisciplinary movement artist that performs internationally. Her performances are informed by her in-depth research in South Asian dance rituals. She has had teaching appointments throughout Europe and the US. At present she is performing with the Meredith Monk vocal ensemble. She has been a teaching artist with Marquis Studios since 2002 and enjoys creating dance theater productions with students of all ages.
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Seanan Forbes
Seanan Forbes is a multifaceted artist: a writer, actor, storyteller, photographer, journalist, multimedia artist, book doula, poet, meditation leader, social justice activist, and teacher. As a dyslexic, dyspraxic person on the autism spectrum, Seanan is able to meet all students where they are. Seanan’s poetry has been published in the UK, EU, US, and Canada, and has won merits in the US and EU. Their photos have appeared in numerous print and digital publications, often alongside their articles. Seanan has had art and photo shows in New York City, Kansas City, and London. Seanan has a particular fondness for international, intergenerational collaborations; trash puppets; physical theatre; taking performance off-stage; and incorporating circus arts into storytelling. Thus far, Seanan has taught people from five to eighty-nine years of age, from New York to Croatia to Japan.They have taught in District 75 schools, ELL classrooms, and performing arts colleges; led family workshops; facilitated restorative justice circles; and incorporated trauma-informed teaching practices into their work. Seanan studied storytelling with Diane Wolkstein, butoh dance with Katsura Kan, and First Folio Shakespeare with John Basil and Patrick Tucker. They have Master’s degrees in writing and performance, both from Goldsmiths College of the University of London.
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Charlotte Gapp
Charlotte Gapp is a visual artist who works primarily with Pre-K to 8th graders in a variety mediums and projects, including African Marketplace Project and arts for students with Special Needs and Autism. She received her BFA in Painting and Art History from The Rhode Island School of Design/ European Honors Rome. Charlotte has worked as a Marquis Studios teaching artist since 2007.