Artist In Residence Programme

In Residence Programme

Each year Rangi engages resident professionals, including artists and writers, who work closely with the girls, in a mentoring and hands-on capacity, toward developing a piece of finished work or a presentation. The whole school community has the opportunity to celebrate the works created by the girls and their in-residence mentor.

Mary-rose Crook Artists and writers in residence prepare public performances in a variety of cultural activities, enabling students to develop confidence and skill in communication and provide an opportunity for the school community to celebrate their talents.

The aim of the Residency programme is to extend learning beyond the classroom by providing students with an opportunity to observe the processes and techniques used by professionals in their discipline or creation of their work.

The In Residency programme:

develops students understanding of culture and creativity
engages the school community in student learning
fosters the use of all available cultural resources, such as artists, museums, arts centers and organisations
encourages the development of comprehensive learning programs that affect the educational environment for all students and community members
increases school and/or community awareness and understanding of, and interest in, learning, the school curriculum and the resident ’s discipline

The Artist in Residence Programme was established at Rangi Ruru Girls' School in 1998. We believe the programme is the first of its kind to be established in Australasia. This is achieved by funding ‘artists’ and professionals to create a body of work in their established field of practice that can then be used as a teaching aid and in workshops in future years.

Resident professionals work with the girls as mentor, motivator and advisor - both in groups and in individual sessions to develop their skills and to better appreciate the particular discipline. Students benefit greatly from seeing a practicing artist making work, a writer developing and creating a piece of drama or poetry, or a philosopher helping them to question their thinking. Since the programme has been running, we have had many notable achievements in art, drama, creative writing and music.

Rangi Ruru is very grateful to: The Canterbury Community Trust who have generously supported the In Residence programme from its inception in 1998. Their help has enabled artists, writers and philosophers to take advantage of the residency which has been of immeasurable value and a source of inspiration for the students and the community. Also, thank you to the Canterbury Foundation and the Rangi Ruru Trust which have both recently supported this programme.

You have enriched the World of Opportunities we offer our students, thank you very much.

2009 - Artist In Residence Programme

AIRDrnorman Dr Philip Norman, Composer in Residence (Term 1 and 2, 2009)

In 2009, the Music Department welcomed Dr Philip Norman as our Artist in Residence in composition. Dr Norman worked with a talented group of girls who have a special interest in Composition.

Under the guidance and tuteluge of Dr Norman, the girls have had an incredible opportunity to better understand the art of music composition and production.

The girls' work was showcased to fellow students, parents and members of the Rangi community at a special evening in Term 3.

Maria Walls -The Art of 'Unmastery' Artist in Residence (Terms 1 and 2, 2009)

The Visual Arts Faculty Artist in Residence for 2009 was Maria Walls. Maria is currently working towards a Doctorate of Fine Arts. Within this, she is examining how, in New Zealand, much culture, including artistic production, has been informed by reproductions of ‘masterworks’ from overseas. She is establishing how, by examining these documents and reproductions,and processing them through a series of techniques, this ‘unmastery’ has currency in the setting of contemporary art practice. Maria utilises a range of media to produce artworks – including still and moving image, audio, other digital media, installation, writing and the internet.

Much Art Education pedagogy in New Zealand is based around this notion of following the tradition and practice of artist models, and at Rangi Ruru this is indeed the case. It is hugely topical and stimulating to have in residence, an artist who is examining the underlying philosophy of this practice and creating her own body of work in response to this.

When making a decision for an AIR for 2009, we wanted to open opportunities to extend the range of media and tools that our students use to make artworks.

Already we have those who work cross-disciplinary, into installation and multimedia outcomes. With this in mind we were thrilled that Maria, who is highly skilled in these areas, agreed to join us and participate in this teaching and learning opportunity for Rangi Ruru.

Maria has also been working with the students in class, helping to critique their work, extend ideas, and in Photography, to offer real practical tuition in digital and colour techniques.

I would like to thank the Rangi Ruru Trust, The Board of Trustees and the Management team for making this possible for the students, staff and artists.

Juliet Collins, CoF Visual Arts

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