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Jesters

Founded by USF in 1978, the Jesters is an intergenerational, multi-disciplinary performing arts program for people with mild to severe intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). The purpose of the Jesters is to enhance quality of life for people with I/DD by engaging them in the creative arts. The vision is to help them develop self-expression, self-esteem, socialization and other life skills while providing learning opportunities to the USF community and the community at large. This one-of-a-kind program runs from September to March, providing over 20 weeks of customized arts education activities, including Movement/Dance, Music (instrumental and voice), Theatre, Animation, Storytelling, Visual Arts and Improvisation.

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The Program

The Jester program works with participants to create original, multi-disciplinary work that is relevant to participants’ lives and highlights performers’ strengths. Each year, artists and participants work together to co-create an original, culminating, multi-disciplinary performance presented each March before a combined audience of 850 people (over two showings). The Jester program year also includes  a 6-week summer program, training for other organizations and guest artist residencies as well as workshops and lecture-demonstrations at conferences, schools and community events.

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Participant Outcomes

  • Develop artistic skills in specific disciplines
  • Increase cultural literacy
  • Enhance self-esteem and sense of belonging
  • Experience healthy relationships with peers and artists
  • Enhance community connections.
  • Enjoy positive use of leisure time
  • Improve soft skills/life skills/social skills
  • Cultivate purpose and meaning
  • Increase independence, employability and self-efficacy

Image-Based Theatre

The intent is not to create a play with a linear narrative; the intent is always to weave poignant moments together to create performance art that invites the audience to share a journey of images and sound related to a theme.

2016 Performance: Believe You Me

2017 Performance: Truth Be Told

2019 Performance: Here and Now

2012 Jesters creating artwork for their spring performance

2019 Performance: Here and Now

2019 Performance: Here and Now

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Community and Training Opportunities

The Jesters program continues offering training opportunities to other organizations, teaching them how the performing arts can be a vehicle to achieve positive outcomes for people with developmental disabilities.

Outcomes for secondary beneficiaries (families, care givers, direct service staff, service providers, volunteers, students, arts organizations, etc.) include:

  • Enhance community engagement through meaningful volunteer opportunities.
  • Increase ability to work effectively with people with I/DD.
  • Enhance positive interactions and healthy relationships with people with I/DD
  • Provide informal support network for caregivers.

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Volunteer Opportunities

USF students, faculty, and other community members are invited to participate as

  • Performers and Accompanists
  • Backstage Crew
  • Direct Service and/or Observation

For more information or to join our mailing list, contact Molly McGowan at [email protected] or 260-399-8064.

The Jesters program is funded in part by AWS Foundation and the Indiana Arts Commission.