VISITING ARTIST SERIES
about our visiting artist series
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The Visiting Artist Series is a nationally recognized performing arts residency program that brings distinguished artists and ensembles to Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa, and Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties in Illinois. The series makes the arts accessible by bringing the performing arts directly to schools and community sites and providing low-cost opportunities for Quad City area residents to see performances that would otherwise be out of reach.
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Please download and review the sample schedule above to help you prepare for your residency with us
Our Visiting Artist schedules require promptness, preparedness, and flexibility. Typically, artists are scheduled for three engagements per day at various locations across our six-county service area. These can take place at schools, community centers, public facilities such as libraries or farmers markets, retirement communities, handicap development centers, hospice care units, after school or alternative school programs, facilities for at-risk youth, college campuses.
Artists are expected to be self-sufficient throughout the residency. Additional sound equipment may be provided by the artist or Quad City Arts with ample notice; however, the artist is responsible for all transportation, load-in, set-up, and load-out of equipment. Some venues are able to provide sufficient sound reinforcement, but many of our venues cannot provide sound equipment.
To help us create a residency schedule that’s mutually beneficial and the best fit for you, we strongly recommend the following far in advance of a residency:
We do not cancel or reschedule events due to the artist's lack of preparedness or understanding.
Artists are expected to be self-sufficient throughout the residency. Additional sound equipment may be provided by the artist or Quad City Arts with ample notice; however, the artist is responsible for all transportation, load-in, set-up, and load-out of equipment. Some venues are able to provide sufficient sound reinforcement, but many of our venues cannot provide sound equipment.
To help us create a residency schedule that’s mutually beneficial and the best fit for you, we strongly recommend the following far in advance of a residency:
- DO be specific with your needs as an artist from the beginning, including materials and equipment
- DO provide an up-to-date tech rider and other requested materials
- DO give realistic estimates of your load-in and load-out times
- DO let us know your comfort level or preferred audiences in advance
- DO be prepared to present in a variety of formats (assemblies, workshops, informal and formal performances, etc.)
- DO ask questions when you do not fully understand our expectations
We do not cancel or reschedule events due to the artist's lack of preparedness or understanding.
examples of outreach
Throughout the residency, the artist will be scheduled for up to three, 45- to 60-minute standard activities, mostly with K-12th grade audiences ranging from 10 to more than 700 people.
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Standard activities will include the following:
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*Complimentary meals and most media appearances do not count towards the 3 daily engagements, and do not overload the artist's schedule. These events are optional.
The schedule will be determined by Quad City Arts. Additional activities will be scheduled as mutually agreeable with the artist. The artist decides on the repertoire for these activities.
The schedule will be determined by Quad City Arts. Additional activities will be scheduled as mutually agreeable with the artist. The artist decides on the repertoire for these activities.
community collaboration
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Leading up to a residency, a community or educational collaborative project or event may be proposed by the presenter. Pending discussions with and approval from the artist, these types of projects may include, but are not limited to:
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what is pass?
PASS, or Performing Arts Signature Series, is a program of subscription-based spotlight performances. Each season, six visiting artists are selected to be featured artists at a PASS event for our donors and supporters.
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PASS events are cocktail parties with hors d’oeuvres and drinks held in the evening and hosted throughout the Quad Cities. A PASS performance is a 30-minute showcase, followed by about 15 minutes of Q&A with the audience of 80-110. Our PASS guests, including contributors and donors who have purchased tickets for the event, love to hear about the artist's experiences in schools and other sites from their residency.
A PASS event counts towards the three events per day in the residency schedule and does not overload the artist schedule. |
sample media coveragE
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Media appearances or interviews may be scheduled during a residency to promote any public appearances, the full-length concert, the work occurring in schools, etc. Any media arrangements will be scheduled with approval from the artist, and do not count towards the 3 daily outreach engagements. Additional media coverage may occur without the artist's involvement, including press releases or interviews approved by the presenter, or from a community collaborator.
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where are we?
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Quad City Arts is located in the heart of downtown Rock Island, Illinois. The Quad Cities area is made up of 5 main cities, and countless surrounding communities. When booking hotel or Airbnb lodging, we recommend staying in one of the central, main 5 cities:
Residency work can take place across these areas as well as throughout our service area, which spans across 6 counties in 2 states:
We have one main airport: Quad Cities International Airport, or MLI (be sure to check out our Airport Gallery!) |
helpful linkS
The Quad Cities is a thriving area, and we want our artists to enjoy all we have to offer during their stay with us.
We LOVE when artists are active on social media during their residencies! We kindly ask you tag Quad City Arts (#quadcityarts) in any media you post while you're in town with us. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Visit Quad Cities - Has a detailed calendar of events and other resources for first-time visitors
- Locals Love Us - Your best resource for finding local eats, gluten free spots, hidden shops, and much more!
- QC Find Now - Another resource to see what's happening, local deals, and fan favorites
- Local weather reports - Be sure to pack accordingly by checking out the local forecast
- AirBnb - There are lots of rentals to help you feel at home. We recommend this option for longer stays and larger groups
We LOVE when artists are active on social media during their residencies! We kindly ask you tag Quad City Arts (#quadcityarts) in any media you post while you're in town with us. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
FUNDING Partners
Significant support for the Visiting Artist Series is provided by: Scott County Regional Authority, National Endowment for the Arts, Bechtel Charitable Trust, Regional Development Authority, Iowa Arts Council, Arts Midwest Touring Fund, U.S. Bank Foundation, Rock Island Community Foundation, Doris & Victor Day Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, Melvin McKay Trust, Mary Iva Gittens Knouse Trust, Rauch Family Foundation I, Bettendorf Rotary, Moline Rotary and Kiwanis Club of Davenport
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