Montclair State University recently welcome a group of students from the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Scotland for an intensive, experiential Creative Thinking Residency.  Designed to foster artistic growth and cross-cultural exchange, the residency encouraged students to explore new approaches to storytelling, creativity, and and devise performance pieces. The program was facilitiated by David Strobbe and Phoebe Farber.

During their time in New Jersey, the students participated in a series of workshops, discussion, and creative exercises centered on developing narrative content in response to thematic questions. The residency focus on helping students access and articulate their own artistic voices while gaining foundational skills in cross-platform content creation.

A central component of the program was the exploration of culturally significant site throughout the New York-New Jersey area. These excursions offered the students first-hand inspiration and material for creative documentation, encouraging them to reflect on space, identity, and meaning in new contexts.

As a culminating event, the students presented original video projects that captured the essence of their residency experience. Working in pairs, each group focused on a specific theme, ranging from Accessibility & Vulnerability to Finding Peace in (Loud) New York City; Cultures; Perspectives Found; and Life/Engagement/Connection. Over the course of just one and a half weeks, the students filmed and edited their projects, combining interviews, illustrations, artwork, and other creative elements into compelling short films.

The edited videos featured a vivid cross-section of New York City life, including the Puerto Rican Day parade, the PRIDE parade, street performers, park musicians, baseball games, and museum exhibition. These artistic snapshots highlighted the students’ individual perspectives while collectively offering a rich, layered, portrait of their creative journey.

Following the presentations, a lively Q&A session gave the students an opportunity to reflect on their experiences. They shared candid thoughts on how the residency had impacted their outlooks, discussed favorite foods they discovered in America, and considered how their expectations of the United States compared with the reality they encountered. One student summed it up simply:

“America was more than what we expected. We saw incredible places and had an incredible opportunity.”

Through collaborative group work, cultural exploration, and creative production, the students emerged with meaningful new insights and an expanded toolkit for artistic expression. The residency exemplifies the commitment to global partnerships and experiential learning opportunities that prepare students to think critically and creatively in a rapidly changing world.