This school performance interprets the Virginia Science SOLs that relate to potential and kinetic energy, simple machines, gravity-equilibrium-inertia, and the states of matter through dance sequences. The presentation offers short movement demonstrations before each dance, which pull the audience into the dance-making process.
Request ProgramGuidelines and Booking Info: Visual Arts Workshops and Performances
The VMFA Statewide’s Visual Arts Workshops and Performances are designed to stimulate greater community involvement in art and to provide opportunities for individuals to work closely with noted professional artists of exceptional talent. These artists have been selected for the merits of their work, their serious commitment to professional excellence, their teaching experience, and their communication skills. The many types of workshop and performance options allow the sponsor the flexibility to schedule programs that meet specific audience needs, and to satisfy different levels of skills and/or experience. To request a workshop or performance, simply click “Request Program” under the program description and complete the Form.
Fees and Costs
For each visual arts workshop, there is a non-refundable materials fee of $150 mailed to VMFA on receipt of an invoice near the date of the presentation. Performances are $250.
VMFA Statewide pays the artist’s fee of several hundred dollars and covers gas mileage.
Driving distances can occasionally necessitate that the Partner provide suitable overnight accommodation and meals for the artist.
VMFA Statewide Programs must be free and open to the public. Partner may suggest the students to pay a nominal fee, termed “Additional Materials Fee” or “Donation.”
Space Requirements
Artist workshops require a well-ventilated studio space with covered worktables, seating, and access to running water and electricity. Additional equipment needs are listed separately under each description. A staff member from the Partner must be present throughout workshops to introduce and assist the instructing artist or performer.
Length: VMFA Statewide workshops are designed to last about 5 hours to be a complete dive for the more engaged art student. The goal is for attendees to have a finished project to take home. Our artists are skilled at developing the students’ creativity with this in mind.
Lunch: Lunch break should be worked out with artist. Some prefer a lunch break, while some are okay with students snacking while working. It is highly recommended that the Partner venue provide lunch for the artist.
Cancellation: VMFA Statewide must be made aware of any type of cancellation at least five days before the event date or the host Partner must pay the fee. VMFA Statewide may cancel the workshop due to inclement weather or artist illness.
Scheduling
Workshop and performance dates are determined in consultation with VMFA Statewide, the Partner, and artist.
Priority is given to Virginia Partners beyond a 50-mile radius of VMFA. Our budget is limited, and our mission is to serve the entire state of Virginia. We invite those Partners within a 50- mile radius of VMFA to apprise their constituents of classes and activities given on VMFA campus.
Any VMFA Partner may host 3 programs per year. If our budget allows, VMFA Statewide can send 4-5 per year, if requested.
Please request a program at least two months prior to your desired program date and allow 2-3-weeks for confirmation. In case of urgencies, we will try to work with Partner requests made as little as 2 weeks in advance.
Availability
Artists and performers should be available July 2024–June 2025, with most available beyond those dates.
Publicity
For the Partner’s use in promoting the workshop or performance, images of the artists and/or their work may be available from the VMFA Statewide representative.
Acknowledgment Requirement
All publicity materials, electronic and/or printed, relating to the artists include the following credit line: This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is funded, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund.
Audience
Due to the one-on-one nature of the Visual Arts Workshops, there must be a minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 participants. If there are fewer than 10, request approval from VMFA Statewide. For performances, there is no limit on number of audience members.
Checklist of Partner Responsibilities
The success of VMFA Statewide’s workshop program depends on strong audience development efforts, made well in advance of the event. To ensure success, the sponsor’s initial responsibilities are to:
- Email the Artist and VMFA Statewide with a complete itinerary at least two weeks before the program date.
- Have the art room in order and ready to go for the artist upon arrival. This includes any audio-visual needs.
- Have a representative of your organization introduce the artist to the students.
- Become a VMFA Partner (or renew). Simply complete a brief Partnership form at this link. No charge applies.
Evaluation
Within five days after the workshop or performance, the partner must provide VMFA Statewide with an evaluation of the program. These can be emailed to VMFA. Please include information about the attendance figures and publicity arrangements, as well as comments and suggestions on the overall workshop. When this is sent, the partner must include copies of some related publicity and printed materials. Some photos of the event would be greatly appreciated.
Address all questions to:
trent.nicholas@vmfa.museum or call 804-204-2681.
Speaking Dancing: Creative Movement Workshop
This workshop explores the magic of words and movement. Participants observe, analyze, and interpret words and movement throughout the workshop. The workshop begins with movement, breathing, sound, and word exercises. Students develop expressive skills as they experience the creative potential of whole body movement. Upon completion of this workshop, participants have a dynamic structure that can be used to create their very own dance and performance pieces. Each workshop group provides their own specific interests. Groups may explore the themes of heritage, family icons or traditions, interpret text or script, or build an original group document, story, or dance.
Request ProgramSand in my Shoes
This performance is inspired by four Virginia locations: the high rises and crosswalks of urban Crystal City, the rural Piedmont area surrounding Charlottesville, the mountains near Luray, and the recreational Northern Neck. The dancing echoes each location. The journey encompasses the pedestrian missteps and moving walkways in Crystal City, the playful loyalty of a country dog, the Appalachian Trail with breathtaking moments of falling, and the summer fun of a beach party.
Request ProgramRidge Line
This performance, suitable for a school assembly, uses dance, photographs, personal letters, and original sound scores as a way to study, examine, and interpret the Civil War. Dances reference the clear-cutting of trees to construct the forts for the Defenses of Washington, Frank Wilkeson’s book Turned Inside Out: Recollections of a Private Soldier in the Army of the Potomac, and the civilian viewpoint documented by Marion Southwood in her description of some 20,000 people, mainly women and children, bidding their dear ones goodbye.
Request ProgramOrganic Beauty
Building on their signature style that intersects art forms and community, Jane Franklin Dance creates a site-specific work inspired by the organic beauty of Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures. Audiences take part in a trans-formative event as they follow the dancers to experience performances in unexpected places. See Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures through a unique lens and experience the power of taking a second look.
Request ProgramPinhole Photography
Photography was invented in 1839.In the beginning, there was a light-tight box, a lens, and a shutter to control light. The camera projected the image on a light-sensitive paper, which was then developed and made permanent through chemical processes. Students will view the first photographs as they look back at the history of photography and then discuss how photography has changed over the last century. Once students have an understanding of image making, the class will make rudimentary photographs using pinhole cameras (supplied) and review the materials needed to make pinhole cameras.
Request ProgramCut, Paste, Layer, and Mask: The Digital Photo Montage
Using digital photographs and Photoshop, students will alter images at the pixel level creating digital montages — or a blend of imagery created by cutting, pasting, layering, and masking digital content — inspired by artwork in the VMFA collection. The instructor will provide digital images during the workshop, but students are encouraged to bring their own digital photos on a jump drive. Students are required to have basic computer skills.
Request ProgramStorytelling with a Camera
A story is often told through photographs. Small groups of students will write fictional stories based on artwork from the museum collection and shown photography examples that take advantage of set construction, lighting, and documentary styles. Visually thinking about their stories, each group will decide how to convey the narratives using a camera. Establishing the subject, location, and character, the photography process begins. The final output will be a portfolio of photographs exhibiting the story either through digital or printed resources.
Request ProgramPhoto Illustration Using Collage
This workshop will illustrate an idea using various photographs. To start, students choose a word or phrase to be illustrated. Looking through a variety of photographic imagery, students will choose photographs to cut and paste to make a collage. Students will be asked to express their word or phrase with three to five different versions of their photo collages. If digital photography technology is available, cameras will also be used in the photo illustration process. The final output will be a portfolio of three to five photo collage illustrations.
Request ProgramThe Digital Portrait
Join photographer Glen McClure, whose projects have included A Random Portrait of Virginia and Faces at the Races, in a hands-on workshop on the digital portrait. Learn simple portrait techniques, including the use of natural light, electronic studio flash, proper backgrounds, and strategies to help your subjects relax in front of the camera. Weather permitting, we will work outside with natural light and create portraits of our classmates. At the end of the day, images are reviewed in one-on-one and group discussions.
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