Art Educator Studio Cohort

Instructor: Gigi DeBerry

The Art Educator Studio Cohort is a four month professional learning community designed specifically for art educators seeking to reconnect with and sustain their own creative practices.  Inspired by programs such as the Brooklyn Museum’s Art Exchange and guided in part by the reflective principles of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, the residency provides educators with dedicated studio time, peer dialogue, creative accountability, and sustainable strategies for maintaining artistic practice during the school year. 

Over four months, participants meet each month for two facilitated cohort sessions. Each gathering provides dedicated time for reflection, discussion, and creative accountability, while encouraging participants to continue working independently throughout the month. 

Between meetings, participants engage in self-directed open studio practice, working toward personal artistic goals while responding to optional prompts, journaling exercises, or creative challenges introduced during each session. Rather than viewing a personal art practice as something reserved for school breaks or summer, this cohort supports educators to engage with their creative practice as an essential part of educator wellness, artistic growth, and sustainable teaching.

Program Structure

• • 5 facilitated cohort meeting, Thursdays 7 – 9 pm 

• unlimited open studio sessions throughout the duration of the program

Meetings Schedule:

• Oct 8th
• Oct 22th 
• Nov 5th
• Nov 19th
• Dec 3rd

Each monthly cohort meeting includes:

• Creative and personal check-ins
• Sharing works-in-progress
• Group discussion and peer feedback
• Reflective writing and journaling
• Artist talks, readings, or resource sharing
• Goal setting for the coming month
• Accountability partnerships
• Creative wellness practices

This program welcomes:

• K–12 art teachers
• Teaching artists
• Museum educators
• Community arts educators
• Early-career and veteran educators seeking creative renewal