April was off to a snowy but beautiful start with our fist batch of 2016 residents making their nests in our Austerlitz studios. So much has been happening here – it’s been such a hive of making!So many groups and artists and writers and teachers and makers of all stripes come to the Colony to learn and make work. We love supporting creative community. It’s our mission.

We’re having an amazing spring already. Matthew Burgess of Teachers & Writers led a Professional Development workshop for the Chatham High School English Department. Teachers of grades 8 – 12 spent the day at the Colony engaged in writing exercises and learning strategies to take back to their classrooms. We heard lots of poet snapping and laughter throughout the day and the evals are glowing.

Between the April and May sessions, The Other Black Girl made Millay their home for a Group Residency and it was empire building and beautiful. Poems tacked up on the walls. Reading aloud. Singing.Plus we support our artists out in the community.

Not only do we host workshops at the Colony, but we place teaching writers and artists in the classrooms. Poet Dave Johnson is leading Professional Development and in-class poetry workshops for us at Hudson Jr. and Sr. High Schools this Spring. Visual artist Elizabeth Riggle did a two-day residency in Jude Harrigan’s classroom at Chatham High School. The first day she showed slides of her work and the second she led students in a hands-on art-making exercise directly related to her talk.

Here are a few photos from the season so far:Top Row: (L) Professional Development workshop for Chatham High School English Department with Matthew Burgess of Teachers & Writers. (R) Elizabeth Riggle holding out a spine for a drawing exercise in Chatham High School.Bottom Row: (L) The Other Black Girl poets Angel Nafis and Morgan Parker build their next show. (R) Dave Johnson leading Hudson City High Schools students in poetry workshops.