FAQ


How do students learn about Marwen?
Many students learn about Marwen via word-of-mouth: friends and siblings who attend our student programs, or teachers and guidance counselors who take advantage of our professional development courses and workshops. Marwen also conducts extensive mailings to principals and teachers prior to each term, and members of our outreach team visit classrooms, community groups, and other youth-serving organizations.
Who is eligible to attend Marwen’s studio program?
Marwen’s studio program is open to students who meet five simple criteria for admission; they must 1) live within the city limits of Chicago, 2) be a student in grades 6 - 12, 3) their families identify themselves as being under-served (i.e. cannot afford to pay for art courses elsewhere), 4) be capable of independently making art for a duration of up to 3 hours, and 5) be self-electing to attend Marwen courses and actively participate in course activities. Prior to being accepted into Marwen’s programs, the parents or legal guardians of prospective students must read and sign an eligibility statement to confirm that the student fulfills these criteria. Each time that a student enrolls for an additional term, he or she must provide a new eligibility statement. In addition, students may enroll in Marwen’s programs for one final summer term immediately following high school graduation.
Who else does Marwen serve?
In addition to over 1,300 students in our studio program and 600 in College and Career programs, Marwen serves approximately 200 area school teachers through our school and teacher partnerships program. Our alumni program serves approximately 200 former students annually, and more than 1,600 friends and families of our students come to our public exhibition openings and special events.
Do students need a portfolio or special credentials for admission?
It is not necessary for students to have any prior art-making experience. Approximately half of Marwen’s students have had some art in school or elsewhere, but only a small percentage is considered to be exceptionally talented in the arts. The vast majority of Marwen students are relatively inexperienced and under-exposed to art-making opportunities.
Are students charged any fees for classes?
All art-making, college planning, and career development courses offered at Marwen are completely free of charge. In exchange for the high quality instruction and materials provided, we ask only that students commit to regular attendance and punctuality. If a student misses more than two sessions in any term, he or she is dropped from the course and invited to return the next term. We have found that this mutual honor system works exceptionally well—our average retention rate is 85%.
How many students does Marwen serve each year?
Marwen serves nearly 2,000 students annually.
Who teaches at Marwen and how are they compensated?
Professional artists, architects, designers, and other experts in the arts teach for Marwen on an independent contractor basis. Many instructors have an MFA or other terminal degree and several years teaching experience. Teaching artists are paid a fee for teaching time, curriculum development, and planning meetings based on a competitive hourly equivalent. There are no permanent salaried teaching artists on staff.
How is Marwen different from other visual arts organizations?
Marwen complements the school curriculum with arts-based after-school programs, while other visual arts organizations focus more on providing in-school or job programs. Our programs allow students to experience professional instruction and authentic artistic practice in a dedicated facility, providing opportunities for students to engage in learning technical skills, learn to guide their own creative process, develop creative thinking skills, and value the importance of art in their lives and society. Special emphasis is placed on students learning effective communication skills ranging from visual, to verbal, and written.

Many other arts-based programs tend to focus on elementary school students, whereas Marwen works with students in grades 6-12. In the midst of a tumultuous and difficult developmental stage, adolescents—particularly those in low-income, high-crime neighborhoods—are severely under-served in terms of substantial programs designed to engage students in subjects in which they have a genuine, personal interest.

Marwen is a citywide program rather than community-based. That is, in order to participate in our programs, students must physically leave their families, schools, and neighborhoods behind. They are released from their daily social hierarchies and provided a chance to reinvent themselves at Marwen. Consequently, each student also encounters a much more diverse peer group than he or she would find in Chicago’s heavily segregated neighborhoods.

Finally, a commitment to long-term relationships is central to Marwen’s mission and key to students’ own personal development. Students may attend courses at Marwen from sixth grade through high school, then segue into the alumni division—a sustained continuum not easily duplicated by other organizations.
How are programs evaluated?
Marwen depends on consistent evaluation to ensure that program objectives are being met and students' needs are served. The education staff regularly observes courses in action, conducts round-table discussions with students, and relies on feedback from our student, alumni, and teacher advisory boards. At the end of each term, our students, teaching assistants, teaching artists, and selected education staff members are asked to fill out a written suvey that assesses course content, studio facility, materials, and program support. After the term is over, enrollment, attrition, and retention rates are also analyzed. Marwen's evaluation methods allow program staff to stay closely connected with the needs of our students, at the same time stimulating experimentation and evolution within our programs.
Who can be considered a Marwen Alumnus/a?
A Marwen alumnus/a is someone who has successfully completed three or more Marwen courses. Membership in Marwen’s Alumni Association is automatic and free of charge.