Mari Evans Residency
for Authors and Artists of Color
a program of The Oaks Academy
The Mari Evans Residency for Authors and Artists of Color invites contemporary writers and artists of color into a unique experience that includes writing in a historic space, engaging with a diverse group of middle school students, and sharing their work with the Indianapolis community.
Creating in a Historic Place
The residency will be hosted at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library, located within The Oaks Academy, Martindale-Brightwood campus at the former John Hope School No. 26. Opened in 1922, the Dunbar Library was the first library in Indianapolis to serve the African American community.
Engaging with the Next Generation
Modeled after university-level writers residency experiences, residents will lead students through a curriculum that encourages practicing elements of creative work, gives them opportunities to give and receive critiques, and provides a chance to ask questions as they learn to hone and share their stories.
Sharing Work with the Community
In addition to working with students, residents will have the opportunity to share their work at evening public-facing events, such as reception and artist talks, readings, presentations, workshops, or gallery openings.
About the Residency Program
Maurice Broaddus
Local Afrofuturist author Maurice Broaddus is the librarian at The Oaks Academy Middle School and the Mari Evans Residency creator and director. He will serve as the first resident, piloting the program in spring 2024.
Maurice has written several books, including “Unfadeable”, for which he was honored by the Children & Young Adult Literary Awards, Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and School Library Journal and “Pimp My Airship”, for which he won a 2020 Indiana Authors Award. In addition to writing, Broaddus was named one of the 250 most influential business leaders in Indiana by the Indianapolis Business Journal. He created and leads Mo*Con, a conference that brings writers together from across the country. He is also a leader at The Kheprw Institute and Cafe Creative, a space for local residents and artists to express the world they envision, where communities of color can gather and grow creatively.
Mari Evans
Mari Evans, whom the residency was named in honor of, was a poet, playwright, and children’s writer who was a major figure in the Black Arts Movement and spent the majority of her life in Indianapolis. She taught at several universities including Spelman College, Indiana University, and Purdue University and received many grants and awards, including a lifetime achievement award from the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.
At this time, residents are selected by invitation only. They receive two weeks of accommodation and studio space as well as an honorarium. If you have questions, please contact Maurice Broaddus at residency@theoaksacademy.org.
© The Oaks Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved.