Place to be Greater- Mountains, Music & Mural

In the spring of 2026, Allison Head at Cottrell Elementary School led a collaborative arts residency titled "The Place to Be, Greater Than Before / Mountains, Music, and Mural". The project, supported by a $5,000 grant, served the school’s entire student population of approximately 600 students from PreK through 5th grade. Inspired by the school’s core values and the local mountain landscape, the initiative brought students together to engage in observational drawing, painting, storytelling, and song.

The residency was a deep collaboration between visiting professional artists Sarah Conarro and Julian Bozeman, school art and music teachers, and classroom staff. Students worked with these experts to create collaborative murals and original musical compositions that reflected their personal growth and collective identity. To extend the project's impact beyond the classroom, a video was produced to document the creative process, featuring time-lapse footage, student reflections, and original songs to showcase their work as digital storytellers.

The project’s educational value centered on fostering social-emotional learning, student agency, and cross-disciplinary connections. By working across grades, students practiced respect and responsibility while strengthening their observational and creative skills. The residency culminated in a school-wide showcase where families and the community gathered to view the final murals and video presentations, reinforcing the school’s commitment to connection and professional growth for the staff.