I am a children's picture book illustrator and author. My most well-known illustrated books include "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", "One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia" and "Grandpa Cacao: a Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family". I work in paint and cut paper collage, and offer school presentations and classroom workshops about my artistic process.

Our mission at BIG INK is to encourage appreciation for woodblock printmaking: one impression at a time. In 2012, Lyell Catongguay founded BIG INK to provide woodblock printmaking workshop opportunities for people of all skill levels. As a result, thousands of individuals have learned how to carve wood by following Castonguay’s online master class, and numerous community members have attended BIG INK’s workshops to witness the spectacle of large-scale woodblock printing. With its community-driven and public art education model, BIG INK is committed to ensuring a promising future for printmaking. Hire BIG INK for a workshop at your school. We’ll travel to your location and set up The Big Tuna, our custom-designed giant mobile printing press. Does your group have limited woodblock carving experience? That is okay. We’ll be your guide!

Judd Sunshine – Teaching Artist since 1985 Judd Sunshine began his career as a teaching artist with the renowned school assembly group known as The Hill Brothers. Between 1985 and 2022, The Hill Brothers performed thousands of educational concerts for students all over New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey. Following the retirement of his fellow Hill Brothers and Sister Susie Hill, he continues the tradition of presenting quality, theme driven, educational, and entertaining programs as a solo performer. His 5 themed shows are comprised of songs and messages delivered with gentle humor and loads of audience participation: Anti Bully Literacy Character Ed (Respect and responsibility) Wellness (safe choices!) Americana and Erie Canal Songs Judd also offers an Erie Canal Songwriting residency as well as non themed shows just for the pure fun of it (great for the end of the school year or summer programs/camps!)

Historic Pursuits utilizes high interest, hands-on programming to create an intrinsic love for history. The emphasis is on character development through historic examples. We train high school, college and community docents to lead these programs as a means to further leadership and community connections. WHY HISTORIC PURSUITS? Interactive and Experiential. We learn best by doing, and remember best through experiences. We put history into people’s hands, to get people trying “new things from the past.” We don’t have audiences; we have participants. Engaging. Yes, you will learn a great deal of “gee whiz” history, but more importantly, you will leave with a desire to learn more. Our goal is to promote an intrinsic curiosity for history. Depending on the program, you can expect to spark flint and steel, practice pioneer survival skills, crunch on some hard tack, spit some beeswax, use decoders from Washington’s spy ring, craft a love note with ink and quill, experience life on the Erie Canal…there are no, “Please do not touch” signs at our programs. Educational. Our staff are retired school teachers. They know about state standards, SEL, SLOs, Learning Targets, etc. They know that social studies plays second fiddle to Math and ELA because school report cards don’t emphasize history. They know that teachers often are forced to “squeeze in” history when they can and that very little professional learning opportunities are available. We teach teachers because we are teachers. We get it. Accessible. Some history venues just don’t fit everyone’s budget and calendar. We will come to you with a truckload of goodies. Or you can come to us for experiences you can’t find anywhere else for anywhere near the affordability. We will work with you to ensure all your objectives are met or if you prefer, we will do the work for you. We will design programs specific to your community and your local history. We strive to bring history to the community because it’s their history. Passionate. We love what we do, and this means that our passion drives our profession. We are insanely curious, always learning new skills, seeking out new history toys and forging new relationships. This passion drives our profession.

My Daughters and Me MDAM My Sons and Me MSAM is an innovative program designed to inspire self-expression and mental wellness in youth through various forms of art, mindfulness practices, and social-emotional learning. The MDAM MSAM INC offers a diverse range of Programs and creative activities including Ready-Set-Go, The Princess in Me, Master My Mind, Mingle and Munch, visual art, clothing design, dance/stepping, STEM, pad drumming, health and wellness, creative writing workshops, drama and empowerment workshops, all while fostering a positive and safe environment for self-expression and character building. Elevate Your Students with Master My Mind (Grades 6-12) Our progressive curriculum features flexible 1-hour lessons that integrate breathwork, mindfulness, movement, and expressive creative art activities with high-quality literature to establish a supportive learning environment, empowering mentorship that helps students cultivate resilience, self-regulation, and communication skills, ultimately leading to increased self-esteem, character development, workforce readiness skills, and confidence in students, resulting in happier, more engaged learners. Art Expressions Project (grades PK-12): Our Art Expressions project program allows us to work with students across various grade levels, schools, and districts, fostering self-confidence, social cohesion, and effective communication. This program also enhances classroom, school, and community projects by incorporating creative arts, musical performances, and clothes design with simple stitching and art-filled spaces that showcase students' creativity. We offer a unique opportunity to create beautiful, elegant, and colorful spaces that students can be proud of. The Princess in Me (Grades 3-5) Unleash the Power of Princess Potential! Our program for girls focuses on building self-esteem, character development, anti bullying and vital life skills through expert guidance and engaging activities. We help young girls transform into confident, capable, and respectable individuals. Mingle and Munch Lunch Buddy Program (Grades 4-8) Introducing 'Mingle and Munch', your ultimate Lunch Buddy Program for girls that enhances the ordinary lunch break into an extraordinary experience. We understand that the lunch hour is more than just a break from classes. It's a chance for students to develop crucial life skills. Our program facilitates meaningful discussions, games, and self-expression among students, helping them grow and connect with their peers. Make the most of your midday reset with 'Mingle and Munch'!

In Matt's programs he talks about the process of writing and illustrating picture books. Each talk focuses on one of his books and includes an interactive reading of the book, sharing background stories and talking a little bit about what authors and illustrators do, and an interactive demonstration of creating the illustrations. Matt will do either 3 auditorium sized or 4 library sized (smaller group) presentations per day. Four library presentations is highly preferred so Matt can better interact with students. Matt can also do an additional smaller group Q&A talk with select students (usually older kids who are interested in writing or drawing), such as a meeting over lunch or an "afternoon tea." Matt has a variety of educational and entertaining presentations suitable for students K through 6th grade, as well as presentations for parent's nights or literacy nights for an additional fee.

The SO Fun Gameshow - Promote Inclusion & Decrease Bullying through FUN and Community! (Also options for The SO Lit Gameshow - Literacy Learning through Fun!) AS SEEN ON NEWS12 and at hundreds of the top summer camps and schools! A program that wows and builds togetherness! With the look and feel of a big-budget TV show, your students become the next contestants on this high-energy game show. We bring a big TV set to your school with moving lights, cameras, TV screens, and hilarious props that get EVERYONE working together. "The excitement and engagement you are able to do with the kids just blows me away." - Arthritis Foundation "I've seen so many school assemblies over my years in education and you are by far, the BEST!" -Sara Cohen, Principal The Churchill School NYC Students will work as a Team to unlock answers and complete zany challenges. Developed by a writer from The Carbonaro Effect, Voice Actor who originated the role of Boots on Dora, and a Behavior Analyst, this gameshow is unlike anything your students have ever seen! Students will have fun, build teamwork and confidence, and learn cool facts along the way. This program was developed by SO Fun City an organization that specializes in inclusive programming! www.SOFunCity.com

Cuentos de Triadas Inc. offers bilingual, multidisciplinary, author visits, writing workshops, parent and family engagement programs, cultural events, poetry performance, small book fairs and literacy programs. Our programs focus on brining immersive cultural experiences for the youth, showcasing the vibrant Latinx/Afrolatinx culture, incorporating literature, dance and movement, and storytelling. Our original stories are relatable, dynamic and educational, promoting a sense of belonging and cultural pride amongst all participants.

A successful author visit doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of hard work, organization, and continued communication. Booked Authors ensures you achieve a successful and impactful author visit – every single time. With years of orchestrating successful author visits and their corresponding book sales, we know how to coordinate the best author experience for your students. Working with more than 75 children's authors, we strive to ensure you host the best option for a successful author visit experience for your students!

At the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum we offer a plethora of educational enrichment programs. Our most popular programs are: Homestead Days: A two hour program where students spend time at 6-8 stations outside learning old-fashioned homestead skills such as candlemaking, butterchurning, and how to put out a fire via bucket brigade. Geared toward 2nd & 3rd Graders and offered in June each year. Summer Fun Days: A week of fun at the Homestead for children aged 7-12. For 3 hours each day, students will join in the historical summer camp fun. Each year rotating the activities to include: soapmaking, old fashioned game day, seed starting, and more. Open to the public, spots limited to 15 children per day. Twas the Night Before Christmas: A 45 minute program for nursery children through 1st grade that includes a reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas accompanied by a puppet show and followed by a scavenger hunt through the museum and a sampling of sugar plums. Generally the last week of school before Winter Break. We also offer private programs geared toward special interest groups. For example we have done a homestead skill day combined with museum tour for teens in the Children of the American Revolution group. We also offer multiple Girl Scout and Boy Scout Badge Programs.

Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Inc. (known familiarly as “the Bardavon'') is a New York State nonprofit corporation that owns and operates two historic theaters. The 928-seat Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie is the oldest continuously operating theater in the state, among the oldest in the country, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1500-seat Ulster Performing Arts Center/Broadway Theater (UPAC) is a National Register property built in Kingston in 1927. UPAC was merged into Bardavon's corporate structure in 2007. The Bardavon consistently presents the highest quality music, dance, theater, and classic films in both its venues. The Bardavon has brought together artists, businesses, and government to produce outdoor events that draw thousands of residents and visitors to the region annually, providing free access to superb art as a source of community pride, urban revitalization, and cultural tourism. The Bardavon Education Program partners with regional schools in offering unique arts-based learning experiences for students and innovative tools for teachers. The continued restoration and preservation of the Bardavon 1869 Opera House and the Ulster Performing Arts Center/Broadway Theater is also a vital aspect of our mission.

Arts for Learning WNY'S mission is to inspire, expand learning, and strengthen our community through engagement with the arts. We offer assembly, workshop, and long-term residency programs with professional artists, committed to their craft, and using it as a tool for creative learning. Art forms include music, multi-media arts, theater, dance, and visual and literary arts. Services are provided in the eight counties of Western New York, including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.m