JISP 2024

Sothern Vermont Arts Center is proud to be partnering with local schools this winter. Along with Bromley Mountain (where the Junior Instructional Ski Program originated), Riley Rink and GNAT-TV, SVAC is offering enriching educational programming during the school day. Students who choose to participate in SVAC’s programs can choose Studio Art or Theater classes.

If your family would like to request financial aid, please email Erin Kaufman before registering (ekaufman@svac.org).

All students are welcome! For students in the Bennington Rutland Supervisory Union, buses will bring students to the SVAC theater and studio, and back to school. Homeschool and independent school families transport their own children.

Studio Art
Instructors: Stan Sears and Lee Williams
Classes Offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Tuesday & Thursday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (Exact start times vary by school.)
Friday 1–3p.m.
$225
Grades K–8

Build and paint, draw and glue, make things that float and balance too….

Studio Art will take shape as we get to know our students. We will divide the group by age. Each group will explore different media and techniques for making art on paper, as well as 3D structures using various tools and materials–sculptures, puppets, towers and more.

Tuesday: Dorset School, Flood Brook School, Mountain School at Winhall, Sunderland Elementary School, Homeschools
January 9–March 5 (skips February 20)

Register for Tuesday

Thursday: Currier Memorial School, Manchester Elementary Middle School, Homeschools
January 11–March 7 (skips February 22)

Register for Thursday

Friday: Long Trail School, Maple Street School, Mettawee Community School, Red Fox Community School, Southshire Community School, Wells Village School, Homeschools
January 12–March 8 (skips February 23)

Register for fRIDAY

Theater Club
Instructor: Michelle Cox
Classes Offered Tuesday and Thursday for students participating in the JISP program.
Tuesday & Thursday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (Exact start times vary by school.)
$225
Grades K–8

Theater games, improvisation, dramatic play and scene work–in a fun, non-competitive environment. Gain confidence in actor instincts and choices. Theater Club meets on the Arkell Theater stage.

Tuesday JISP: Dorset, Flood Brook, Mountain School at Winhall, Sunderland, Homeschools
January 9–March 5 (skips February 20)

Register for Tuesday

Thursday JISP: Currier, MEMS, Homeschools
January 11–March 7 (skips February 22)

Register for Thursday

Friday JISP: Long Trail, Maple Street, Mettawee, Red Fox, Southshire, Wells, Homeschools
January 12–March 8 (skips February 23)

Register for Friday

Teaching Artist Bios

Lee Williams
A resident of Shaftsbury, VT, Lee is originally from Wales, UK. He has taught art and design extensively at the university level and with children. Lee has exhibited his work throughout Europe as well as in Australia and the US. He has received various fellowships and commissions to undertake public and private work in a variety of media. He has led many community-based arts projects and events. 

Stan Sears
Stanton Sears is a sculptor and a professor emeritus of art at Macalester College, St Paul.  He holds degrees from Rhode Island School of Design and Penn State. In addition to the fine arts, his training has included study in architecture and landscape architecture. Stan and Andrea Myklebust are a husband-wife team; they have created more than 70 large-scale public art projects for sites across the United States. Find out more about their public art  or read Macalester College’s 2018 ebook, A MATERIAL EDUCATION: THE ART & SCIENCE OF STANTON SEARS.

Michelle Cox
Michelle is an experienced teacher, actor and director. A graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.