Six diverse teaching artists — Papa-Kobina Brewoo, Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli, Sylvie Rosenthal, Amadou Kromah, Teena Wilder, and Anwar Floyd-Pruitt — have been selected for the inaugural cohort as The Bubbler at Madison Public Library launches a new artist-in-residence program called “The Bubbler Artist Cohort” this summer.
“We’re making an intentional shift to diversify our artist pool and we hope that results in a deepening of capacity to meet the needs of youth – particularly youth of color – in our community,” said Trent Miller, Bubbler Program Coordinator, in a statement. “As we all re-engage in the community, in new and familiar ways, we want to provide youth with more tools, space, and connections in order to feel supported through creative expression. We feel the creativity of six artists working together to explore the theme of Belonging will have a bigger impact.”
The artists, recommended by local community arts organizations and other youth-focused partners, will work together to create community connections and creative opportunities around a single theme of “belonging” with youth ages 8-18 years old, according to a press relesase from the City of Madison. Additionally, Madison Public Library’s Racial Equity Change Team, Youth Services Team, and Community Engagement Team also contributed to the cohort selection process.
“We wanted a group of artists that were enthusiastic about working with youth and the library, but we also needed people who could work collaboratively,” said Miller. “This is a diverse group of established to emerging artists who create with a variety of mediums, are focused on engaging with the public, and who are ready to co-create tools for inclusive, youth-centered library practices and spaces with us and with community partners.”
Since 2013, the Bubbler program at Madison Public Library has successfully supported over 60 artist residencies.
