Residency Program & Partner Application

Your school could be eligible for FREE Programming.

Restorative Theatre™ is rooted in creating spaces of joy and belonging through play. We co-create opportunities for self-expression, expanding one’s imagination, and cultivating meaningful connections. We implement and advocate for restorative alternatives to punitive systems that create a safer, more supportive world for young people, their families, and the adults who serve them. We activate moments where individuals and communities can process the challenges they experience, work towards possible shared solutions, explore who they are and who they want to become.

Our residency program prioritizes schools that serve historically under-resourced communities, with a focus on Title I schools and those with a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch. We are committed to partnering with schools where our impact can help address systemic inequities and support student well-being. To ensure access and equity, program fees are offered on a sliding scale based on your school’s demographics and available resources.

Fill out the application below to become a Program Partner.

  • Curiosity

    We create and hold space with curiosity and an open mind. We are always receptive to learning new things with the desire to quench interest and pursue new perspectives. We have a genuine interest in seeking to understand by asking questions and working through root cause analysis.

  • Courage

    We accept and embrace the freedom to fail (make a bold choice, reflect, hold myself accountable, and come back stronger). We are in a constant state of becoming - we trust the flow, challenge the status quo, embrace the unknown, and lead through authenticity and vulnerability while leaning on our supportive community.

  • Community

    At our core we work in and with our community to co-create shared goals, purpose and healing. We build strong, empathetic, trusting relationships through restorative spaces of belonging. We actively learn from one another, share ideas, deconstruct, rebuild, restore, and transform as a collective.  

  • Play

    We are rooted and grounded in play (creativity, imagination, and joy) for our personal and collective well-being. Play is the invitation we create for individuals to settle their bodies, express themselves, build connections, and cultivate a sense of presence and embodiment.

A look at Residency

We collaborate closely with classroom teachers to ensure our programming aligns with and supports Colorado Department of Education (CDE) standards in both English Language Arts and Theatre. We also work in close partnership to ensure we support any site or district-specific curricula that may be utilized.  Through co-planning, reflection, and real-time integration, we intentionally design our Restorative Theatre™ experiences to reinforce and address creative and narrative writing standards, oral expression and listening skills, and provide resources to develop research and inquiry skills. We will also provide lessons to help build reading skills, not limited to analyzing complex characters, interpreting subtext and meaning, as well as identifying tone, emotion and meaning in a text. Additionally, our staff will provide the time and space to create different presentations and performances for students to practice presentation skills and confidence building. In all activities, we will provide the opportunity for students and staff to critically respond to the work that was shared.  Our approach not only deepens students’ engagement with required content but also cultivates social-emotional learning in ways that are responsive, creative, and standards-aligned.

  • Two MIA facilitators will partner with an English or Theatre Teacher once a week to collaborate in a year-long residency in 2-4 classes (depending on day/time). 

    • Residency schedule: 11-12 weeks Fall | 15-17 weeks Winter/Spring (can modify for quarter/hectare schedules)

    • Pre-program, mid-point check-in and post-program meetings per semester to ensure high quality programming that meets the needs of every classroom.

    • Pre and post surveys to assess program goals; to be administered to participants and the Educator in the space

    • Program Manager site visits throughout to provide coaching, enhance co-creation and joint planning

  • Research has shown that theatre is uniquely positioned to support SEL growth by increasing belongingness, esteem, relationship-building, and self-actualization. Dr. Hakan Usakli said, “The essence of drama is social interaction, which involves contact, communication, and the negotiation of meaning within a group context. Creative drama can provide the opportunity to develop imagination, encourage

    independent thinking and cooperation, build social awareness, take others’ perspectives, promote a healthy release of emotion, and improve habits of speech.” Additionally, SEL is fundamental for our youth because, according to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, SEL proves imperative to reduce risky and violent behaviors. SEL helps build self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and decision-making

"This program helped me be a better person — it helped me see that making a bad decision isn't the end of the world." - Youth Participant

“The partnership is one of a kind…a living example of how strong relationships can create a working space for all to grow." - Westerly Elementary

Let’s work together

This is a rolling application, but all submissions must be received by July 7th. We will review applications as they come in and notify all applicants of our decisions by July 21st. For any questions feel free to reach out to our Executive Director of Programs, Maya Osterman-Van Grack at m.osterman@mirrorimagearts.org.