During a 1979-1980 pilot project, 13 nine-week residencies by professional artists were sponsored in 10 eastern Oregon school districts with Eastern Oregon State College serving as liaison, the Northwest Area Foundation of St. Paul (Minnesota) contributing $33,500, and participating school districts adding a total of $8,000 in funding. This low local cost of $350 to $400 allowed administrators to use miscellaneous funds, eliminating solicitation of funding for an unproven program from an unconvinced school board. If the program is to be continued, 70% financing by participating school districts is expected within 4 years. Policy and procedure guidelines were adapted almost verbatim from the State Arts Commission's program. Artists were hired through on-site interviews at each school district, whenever possible. Professional qualifications and experience with young people were weighted heavily, but the greatest importance was placed on whether or not the artist had worked in rural areas. Residencies were tailored to the needs of individual districts and involved poets, abstract painters, ceramic artists, puppeteers, actors, and cartoonists. (NEC)