INTRODUCTION

HamptonArts’ EAST Student Program's main goal is to equip young Chinese art students to have a successful and fulfilling academic experience, and how to transition that experience into a successful career.

The program will connect and acclimate Chinese art students to the western art school application processes, the contemporary art world, and contemporary art making practices through presentations from professional artists, academic advising experts, art student panels, art screenings, and trips to Chicago's world renowned art institutions and galleries. See below for an outline of the program.

LOCATION

Chicago is home to a diverse local and global art scene, with world-renowned museums, art schools, programs, galleries, and public art installations. As part of the program curriculum, students will attend several of these sites, such as the School of The Art Institute of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Gene Siskel Film Center, the Zhou Brothers Art Center, the Sean Cambell Gallery, and many more.

CURRICULUM & ACTIVITIES

CONTENT CONNECTIONS

Throughout the program, there will be themes connecting all the activities, which will allow the students to come away with a foundational understanding of the concepts presented in the goals of the program. These themes will revolve around answering the questions: What is good art? What makes and artist an artist? What is my path to art school? What is my path to a career in the arts?

GUEST ARTIST TALKS & ARTIST PANELS

Artists from the Chicago area will come to give interactive presentations from contemporary mediums, such as digital art, experimental animation, 3D printing, installation, and traditional areas such as painting, illustration, photography, and sculpture. Likewise, the program will host presentation and Q&A panels of MFA and BFA art students throughout Chicago. These panels will be excellent opportunities to hear and learn from artists who recently went through the application process and succeeded.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Students and parents will have these designated times to make the most of the content by brainstorming and asking questions regarding the speakers or content that is being shown or discussed.

STUDIO WORKSHOPS

Developing a series of artwork is the first challenge for any young artist. As part of the curriculum, students will spend time developing concepts for one or two series of works reflecting their experience during the trip and of their own interests.

SITE VISITS

As described above under Location, there are numerous sites that the students will be visiting as part of the curriculum.

TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

There will be periods of time, mostly in the late afternoons and evenings, for the group to visit cultural sites throughout Chicago, getting a feel of an iconic, historic, and diverse American city. Such sites include: The Hancock Building Sky Deck, the Navy Pier, Boating tours on the Chicago river, the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, Lake Michigan beaches and boating tours, Millennium Park, Maggie Dailey Park and Water, Downtown shopping, Ethnic neighborhoods, Famous restaurants, and local events. There’s plenty to do and enjoy.

ESL CONSIDERATIONS

The more English a student understands the better. However, to ensure that all students get the most out of the program, HamptonArts is prepared to accommodate its young audience by hiring translators for the program activities and providing translated content materials.