Veena & Devesh Chandra are an internationally renowned Indian Classical Music duo whose unique mother-son partnership embodies the authentic guru-disciple tradition spanning generations. Their immersive and interdisciplinary programming offers profound understanding of both the music and the culture inherent to it. Their customizable Arts in Education programs range from interactive performances and small group workshops to comprehensive 4-day residencies that seamlessly integrate Indian music and culture across subjects including Art, English, History, Orchestra, Chorus, Band, and Dance. As Artist Associates at Williams College and recipients of multiple New York State Council on the Arts and National Endowment of Arts awards, their programs foster creativity, promote cultural understanding, and offer hands-on experiences with traditional instruments such as tabla and sitar, culminating in school-wide presentations that celebrate diversity and connect communities through the transformative power of music. The Chandras bring both artistic excellence and deep educational expertise to create memorable learning experiences that inspire curiosity, spark cultural appreciation, and engage students of all ages (Pre-K through 12) in this ancient yet vibrant musical tradition.

Mylisa Larsen is the author of the novels Playing Through the Turnaround and Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better and the picture books All of Those Babies, If I Were A Kangaroo, How To Put Your Parents To Bed and Ho Ho Homework. Her author visits are designed to look at some of the underlying assumptions that cause students to decide that they’re not writers and to give students practical and fun ways of building their skills as writers which they can use immediately. We explore techniques for finding stories and getting started, experiment with how different choices we make shape our work, and talk about techniques for revision and for when writing gets hard. We talk about what the job of an author looks like but also how the skills of creative problem-solving which make up the job of a writer apply to many other fields and endeavors. All programs are tailored to the age of the students. Several different programs available are listed at mylisalarsen.com/visits.

I provide paintings, art prints, and photography services directly to clients. My work is featured in a number of private collections within (and beyond) Western New York. In 2016, I founded Avery & Harlow to grow my art business. I have individual and commercial clients, including Meet & Eat Charcuterie, Magic Bear Beer Cellar, Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House, Trocaire College, Canisius University, and TEAM VIA (New York City Real Estate Advisors). I've donated art to Lollypop Farm Humane Society of Greater Rochester, Massachusetts Avenue Project, Rochester Contemporary Art Center (as part of the 2023 and 2024 6x6 fundraiser exhibition) and the WNY Women's Foundation. In addition, I'm a former instructor (specializing in business and marketing) for the Arts Management Program at University at Buffalo. I'm also a Teaching Artist and marketing consultant for GWFA Gallery in Hamburg, New York.

In "Fact or Fiction" performers tell stories through dance. Are they true? The audience decides! The show is a ton of fun, with an electrifying cast and a ton of heart! Audiences laugh, maybe cry, and definitely have something to talk about after the show. We bring the auction paddles for voting; you bring the students! This show has inspired multiple offshoot projects amongst students and teachers.

Teaching Artists ROC places teaching artists in area schools, after-school programs, senior centers, civic/cultural spaces and local events. These performers and artists enrich existing curricula and support programming by introducing participants to new ideas, concepts and cultures. Outlets of expression are provided for people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life. Who We Are We are independent teaching artists and ensembles sharing a common interest in providing meaningful arts learning experiences for students of all ages. As teaching artists, we share the skills and perspectives we have developed through years of dedication to our disciplines. We don’t just teach our art. We teach a variety of subject areas using our art. Each artist on our roster is different. Each has something special to offer.

You Can Do a Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Meme, or Zine Categories: Creative Writing, Visual Arts Curriculum. Costs VIRTUAL PROGRAMS (ZOOM) One-hour interactive classes, unlimited participants: $500.00 LIVE IN-PERSON PROGRAMS One day: $1,200.00 Four days: $3,800.00 Eight days: $6,500.00 For venues more than 40 miles from Hudson, NY travel cost of $0.50 mile will be added. For venues more than 40 miles from Valatie, NY travel cost of $0.50 mile will be added. Available year-round. Program Theme: Students learn how to create a graphic novel beginning with a six page comic. It doesn’t matter if they can draw. Stick figures are an expressive way for the reluctant artist to begin. Participants are encouraged to bring their sketchbooks and characters they may already be working on. They will learn about The Creative Process, how to write a Character Study, focus on the beginning, middle, end and twist of a story, and Create Layouts. If the program is an assembly, Barbara talks though the program with on-screen illustrations of the process. The school is to provide a computer, projector and screen. Program Description: Each program is custom tailored to the grade, number of students in the class, and number of sessions. If there are four or more sessions per class, the program finishes with a Graphic Novel Exhibition (see below). The Creative Process: 20 creative tips. Creating Characters: Participants complete bio sheets with the character’s name, age, best friend/side kick, powers (if any), biggest fear, life goal, etc. Plotting: Learning how to plot challenges the student to complete a story. Too many begin the story and throw it out somewhere in the middle. The student learns to plot by color code, a method used by film/tv/graphic novel writers. Layout: Participants learn about panels, thumbnails, dialogue balloons, sequence, and making a page pop. Rather than drawing “talking heads,” they draw a close-up, pull back for a long shot, followed by interior, exterior, bird’s eye views. Everybody works at their own pace. Some are advanced artists/writers while others are beginners. It doesn’t matter where they begin as long as they get going. I hand out a “character bible” sheet and encourage them to think about the beginning, middle, end and twist of their story. The twist is what makes the story interesting. I bring in samples of character bibles from Marvel comics which they can keep, and scripts written by professionals. Feedback is an important part of the program. It usually begins when I hold up a student’s drawing and ask them to suggest a name, age, or character trait. The student can take the suggestions or discard them, however, it opens up discussions. In the first session, students are sometimes quiet/shy with other students but by the second, they open up about their characters and stories. After the last workshop, the doors open to parents, friends, relatives, the community, and the local press. Students show and talk about their work…where they got their inspiration for characters/story. The “Graphic Novel Exhibition” attracts a lot of attention and often results in newspaper articles. Having artwork in the newspaper is great for a student’s self-esteem and for their portfolio. Copies of Barbara's textbook You Can Do a Graphic Novel can be ordered for the school library, and discounts are available from the publisher for class-size orders. http://youcandoagraphicnovel.com/students1.htm

SchoolAssemblies.com offers interactive, high energy, engaging and fun assembly programs that are tailored for students from kindergarten through 6th grade. Our current roster includes: STAND UP, STEP IN, STOP BULLYING! - Our popular antibullying assembly for schools features music, virtual characters, game shows and participation all wrapped up into a fun but important school assembly program. BOT! THE SECRET WORLD OF ROBOTS - It's never too early to introduce kids to the world of STEM. Your kids LOVE ROBOTS and they'll love this show too! HIP HOP SPELLS R.E.S.P.E.C.T! - Lack of interpersonal skills are the epicenter for problems in today's schools. Through this engaging interactive hip hop show, dance icon and student favorite, DJ Reggie stresses to your kids the importance of the "five pillars of good character." TIME-TRAVELING INVENTORS - With the help of our real-life time machine, your kids will embark on a mesmerizing journey that brings them face to face with some of history's greatest inventors! It's a lively blend of interactive games, laughter, and hands-on excitement, that inspires a passion for history and innovation! THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA - Patriotism is more than a song and this rousing musical assembly proves that. It's rare to find an inspirational, interactive program which instills those once cherished values back into America's classrooms. This "revolutionary" program does just that! Using humor, music and participation SOA is a sing-along favorite! CHRISTMAHANUKWANZAMADAN! - This multimedia-filled, multi-cultural magical tour of music from several winter holidays presents your kids with a reminder that the world is so much bigger than our own backyard. A holiday sing-along celebration and, we bring SNOW to every show!

I offer Author Visits consisting of a 45 minute multimedia presentation of me as a young reader, the writing process and a read aloud. My book "Nervous Rex" and my new book "Mort the Worry Wart" both center around mental health strategies, so I weave that into my presentation as well. I also have smaller writing workshop opportunities. I am very flexible and work with schools on format, etc. I look forward to hopefully working with you!

Are you looking to inspire and motivate your students to overcome adversity and achieve their dreams? As a seasoned speaker for large groups and classroom settings, I offer a powerful and personal presentation that will resonate deeply with young people. My topics include advocating against bullying, developing self-belief, curating effective storytelling, and the importance of sharing your personal story. Additionally, I provide practical guidance on effective writing techniques, helping students to develop their writing skills with confidence and clarity. Drawing from my own experiences of overcoming challenges such as a broken family, poverty, and mental illness, I provide a relatable and inspiring perspective. My goal is to empower students to find their voices, believe in themselves, and create a life where they follow their passions and make a positive impact on the world. By sharing my story, I aim to offer a lifeline to those struggling, inspire hope, and stress the importance of asking for help. From small writing sessions to public speaking workshops, I offer a unique variety of experiences that will impact any age group!

After retiring from teaching at the elementary level for 25 years, I decided I still wanted to teach. So, my love for nature and children led me in the direction of writing fictional animal based stories based on facts. I offer school wide readings, as well as class presentations. Depending on the program requested, I also offer activities (crafts and games) as well as some science based videos to aid in the presentation. Book signings are always provided for books purchased before or during the special book talk day. Books are: The Flamingo With Two Left Feet Amari’s BIG Surprise…It’s NOT Monkey Bread! We Can...and We Do!

Demonstration based assemblies focusing on the science of soap bubbles, light and color, and the wonder to be found in common situations. Beginning with a simple soap bubble we resist the urge to pop and instead observe as it goes through its four stages. We explain why bubbles form spheres at age appropriate levels and then show how multiple bubbles can create a variety of shapes including a cube. Participants are taught the tricks of bubble artists and in workshops they are given the opportunity to be successful. Altman taught high school physics for 35 years and traveled to science conferences speaking about his award winning programs focusing on lasers and holography. Retired, he as authored four science text books and one on the science of soap bubbles.

Mars pottery offers raku workshops all day workshops where students create and fire their work in the Japanese art of raku. We also offer sculpture classes and children’s classes. @ginamarspottery