Michelle Meade

I offer teaching artist multi arts workshops for kids and adults. I combine my experience in dramatic arts and visual arts education to provide engaging multi arts workshops to schools and communities.

I write and illustrate children’s books that inspire creativity and imagination. I’m a professional artist and a professor of art and art history. I have been selected as part of the Kansas Touring Artist Roster where Kansas schools and community organizations can book my creative interactive arts workshops through grants through the state website. I’m also a member of SCBWI.

Michelle specializes in leading engaging multi-arts workshops that integrate visual art activities with creative dramatics, storytelling, and exhibitions. Hands-on indoor and outdoor activities range from picture book workshops to mask-making. See linked artist website for detailed work samples: www.michellemeade.net

Most workshops require one to three, 50 to 90 minute sessions from $450.00 -$550.00 each session. Fees vary depending on scope of project and number of participants and number of sessions booked. Additional fees are required for distance traveled and overnight stays. There is an additional materials fee but many materials are re purposed and can easily be found in the home or schools.

The following hands-on crafts are geared towards youth, 4th grade and up, with an emphasis on personal discovery, creation, reflection, and presentation. Workshops may be selected from the standard programming options, which include:

• Picture Books: Book creation that incorporates creative writing and mixed-media Illustrations. (1–3 sessions, depending on the complexity of the project choice) •
• Tabletop Puppetry: Creation of stage and puppets using recycled materials, starting with a simple cardboard box! Followed by a puppet show presentation. (Three, 50-90 minute sessions)
• Shadow Puppets: Creation of colorful, transparent shadow puppets themed after the tissue paper collage art of Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, followed by a puppet performance. (3 sessions)
• Mask-Making: Mask-decorating workshops that incorporate mixed-media art and creative writing, deals with themes of public and private persona and boundaries (such as in social media) and includes reflection and presentation. (1–2 sessions)
• African Stories: A mask-decorating workshop, followed by a story theatre plays from the book of fables Anansi the Trickster Spider: Tales from Africa. (3 sessions)
• Tree of Life: A mixed-media self-portrait project that includes symbols, themes of self esteem, reflection and presentation. (1–2 sessions) Logistics:
• Most workshops are conducted in a single 90-minute session. Workshops requiring more time can be held in three 50-minute sessions.
• Workshops are well-suited for a standard class size. • Several workshops can be booked for a single day at one school.

Additional fees are required for distance traveled and overnight stays. There is an additional materials fee but many materials are re purposed and can easily be found in the home or schools.

Any of the above speaking and/or workshop program offerings can be adapted Michelle caters to a wide range of generations, including youth, families, and senior citizens. Multi generational workshops especially welcome. Available services and topics include:

• Picture Books: Creative workshops that include storyboarding, character development, and mixed-media illustrating.
• Slideshows: Mask History in the World; Exploring Cultures. • Tabletop Puppetry: Cardboard-box stage-making and storytelling workshops for youth or educators.
• Mask-Making: Introspective mask-decorating workshops for community groups, designed to explore participants’ public and private personas through exterior and interior mask design and by incorporating writing with art.
• Tree of Life: Mixed-media self-portrait workshops for parents and children, seniors, or multi-generational families. Logistics:
• All presentations are tailored to the size of institution, duration of event, theming, and participants’ age range.
• Michelle exhibits her children’s book illustrations, photography, oils, and watercolors online and at locations where she teaches or at other appropriate locations in the community. Student work created at workshops can also be exhibited.

Please contact with at least 1-12 months notice to be sure to book selected dates. The earlier the bookings the better the booking date availablity. Please note extra fees for travel and overnight accommodations. Travel fees are standard mileage rates for the state of Kansas at .56 cents per mile.