Kristin Qualls speaks about Wheaton’s open studios during artists’ residencies. Oral history interview with Kristin Qualls conducted by Catherine Whalen and Barb Elam, July 26, 2019, Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center. Clip length: 01:23.

Kristin Qualls: And it is a difficult balance. And one thing that I think is somewhat unique about what you’re seeing happen at Wheaton is that it is an open artist studio. So, for example, if you go to Corning and you go to their demos, that’s a stage set, that’s a scripted—that’s a studio just for demonstrations for your general audience. Whereas for us, no, that’s our working studio. That’s where it all happens. We don’t have another studio in a building behind the museum or behind all this where the artists are actually working. So it is always a balance to make sure it doesn’t become a dog and pony show, to make sure those artists that are there feel respected and not like we’re using them to gain an audience. And I think that’s part of what I mentioned to you the other day, the studio’s open longer than just the public hours, and within any given set of fellows or visiting artists we might have, there are going to be some who love hammin’ it up in front of the audience and really get into it, and get really excited about kids being engaged with the art and that being a connection and that’s part of their practice. And there’s other artists that are going to not want that at all, but then they can work in the studio after five, or on Mondays when we’re closed. So we do work hard to try and strike that balance between making them an exhibit and honoring them as artists and giving them the sanctuary they need to get their work done.