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.

  • 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.

  • Vivien Freeman

    Vivien Freeman is a visual artist, teaching artist and museum art educator from Auckland, New Zealand. She enjoys teaching a wide range of art making disciplines, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and sculpture. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree of Visual Arts from the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, in 2008, she has been working as a professional artist and arts educator. Vivien is experienced in working with students of all ages and various abilities in multiple settings, including public schools, museums, community organizations, charitable organizations and in hospitals. She finds joy in sharing her passion for the arts and education with her students, and loves facilitating engaging, high-quality, meaningful art experiences. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn.

  • Ashley Frenkel

    Ashley Frenkel is an educator with a passion for interdisciplinary approaches to art making. Graduating from NYU with a B.A. in Art History, and minors in Russian, Psychology, and Studio Art, the world at large and how it works has always been a tremendous inspiration. These varied interests led her to teach in museums and eventually in classrooms. With experience teaching science, history, math, and visual art, she wants to break down the walls between “subjects” and foster critical thinking through connections for students of all ages. Some mediums in her repertoire include: collage, painting, drawing and printmaking, Through the process of exploring familiar and unfamiliar materials, she hopes to inspire students to tap into their own creative potential and tell their own unique stories.