The Bridge Way School, PA’s first and Philadelphia’s only high school for students in recovery from substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders, is thrilled to announce its new Recovery Artist-in-Residence program within our learning community in northeast Philadelphia.

Our Mission and Program
Bridge Way’s mission is to offer a strong academic program to students in grades 9–12 who are in recovery from substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders that allows them to focus on learning in an environment in which recovery is required and supported.

Our program is an abstinence-based model, including the holistic accountability of drug testing, with a restorative (rather than punitive) approach to care. We partner with Unity Recovery to provide full-time on-site peer recovery support services through group meetings on coping skills and emotional regulation strategies. Each student develops a recovery plan. We operate with an in-person hybrid learning model with project-based live courses and online learning options. Every student develops a postsecondary plan and completes Act 158 requirements on their road to graduation. Tuition is funded by the state and sending district; it is no cost to families.

The Residency
The Recovery Artist-in-Residence Program is a NEW! 20-week program based in our art studio. Residents are invited to use the space for both (1) their own practice and (2) for a community-rooted arts project with our youth. Residents are required each week to offer four hours of art engagement in person with our youth and engage in three hours of professional development and/or planning time. (7 hours per week)

The community project must be attainable within 15 weeks and include student-directed initiatives in its development and creation.
We are selecting TWO artists for the 2023-2024 school year; one artist will join us in late August-January. The second artist will join us from January-June.
Artists of all mediums are welcome to apply.

What makes this opportunity a “Recovery” Artist-in-Residence program?
The Bridge Way School is a recovery-friendly workplace devoted to serving a community of diverse youth engaged in their healing process. Our students have often experienced significant trauma, and we hold to holistic values of accountability and academic practices. We wish to engage with artists who can identify with our students and mission with significant vibration. Therefore, in our selection process, we are committed to prioritizing artists in recovery from substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Artists who do not identify as in recovery may still apply- please be sure to reflect transparently on your connection and experience to our work in your letter of interest.

Compensation:
$4,200 per 20 weeks + materials budget

Please review the full call for artists for directions on submitting your application by June 30th.

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