Royal Shakespeare Company Partnership

In November 2008, the OSU Board of Trustees formally approved a partnership agreement between Ohio State and the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company, spearheaded by the Arts Initiative. This international partnership promotes literacy, drama education and leadership in Ohio public schools. The only partnership of its kind in the US, the program focuses on a three-year teacher education program based on the RSC’s renowned “Stand Up for Shakespeare” program. The graduate-level enterprise will enrich Ohio public school teachers’ ability to teach Shakespeare and complex texts, and build ensemble with children at various grade levels. It embarked in summer 2009, partnering with central Ohio schools in Ohio’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) network: Metro High School, Linden-McKinley and its feeder schools; and Reynoldsburg City Schools. The partnership includes as partners the OSU College of Education and Human Ecology, OSU College of the Arts and College of Humanities focused in Theatre and English, and the Wexner Center for the Arts. Private donations, Battelle and the Office of the President provide funding for the partnership.

Emerging Artists Program: Crafting a Life in the Arts

The program is designed to help creative, talented arts entrepreneurs compose their lives and create work in Columbus, contributing to the economic vitality of Columbus as a vibrant, dynamic city. One component of the program focuses on partnering with South Campus Gateway to create Arts Alley – providing entrepreneurial artists with programming, exhibition and performance space in the Gateway beginning fall 2009. The intention is to build a community where artists work together to exhibit, perform, sell artwork, teach and provide classes, open rehearsals, public lectures and/or studio talks. This will be a pilot model with the possibility of developing in other community locations.

Recognizing the need for artists to develop the skills needed to pursue a career, we have developed a fellowship program to provide emerging artists with necessary creative process, organizational and entrepreneurial skills. Beginning January 2010 Fellows will refine their artistic voice, learn research and application prep techniques for grants, fellowships, scholarships and residency programs, as well as techniques to find and maintain partners in the community.

In addition, in partnership with WOSU we are developing and producing a weekly radio show that showcases regional emerging artists. The program – The Emerging Artists Studio – is hosted by Karen Bell. First guests include local artists Adam Brouillette, Jenai Cutcher, Dwayne Blackaller and Stephanie Rond.