Learn About Art

For Teachers and Schools

What is the NEW Creative Classroom Series?

The Creative Classroom Series offers Central Ohio schools and organizations an exciting opportunity to collaborate with the Columbus Museum of Art to develop a model student art exhibition. The exhibition will be housed in the Museum's new Center for Creativity and will serve to highlight creative learning environments. A reception and awards ceremony will be held to recognize innovative teaching and student accomplishments.

For more information on the Creative Classroom Series, contact:
Susie Underwood
Studio Programs Coordinator
susie.underwood@cmaohio.org
614-629-5940

School Partnership Programs

The Columbus Museum of Art is always seeking innovative ways to introduce students to great art. We have three new strategies that range from outreach to intensive multi-visit programs. For additional information, please contact Jessimi Jones, Educator for Teacher and School Partnerships, at jessimi.jones@cmaohio.org or 614-629-0363.

Art Lab

Art Lab is a high-school service-learning initiative. Teens experiment with technology to create educational resources for our permanent collection and special exhibitions. Creating video podcasts, students forge connections between art, school curriculum, and their lives.

Time Warner Cable is a supporting sponsor of Art Lab.

Art Lab Goals and Outcomes Worksheet (pdf)

Critical Works

Critical Works is a partnership between the Columbus Museum of Art and the Columbus Collegiate Academy. This program connects the Museum with a middle school that has no arts programming in order to provide a rich arts experience. CMA teaching artists bring authentic, socially charged works of art to the classroom to engage middle-school students in a five-day, trans-disciplinary learning experience. Students explore social issues relevant to their own lives and communicate their concerns through creative expression and experimentation in the medium of printmaking.

Critical Works is presented by JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

Adventure Out

Adventure Out is a partnership between CMA and The Schoenbaum Family Center at Weinland Park, affiliated with The Ohio State University. This program facilitates deep exploration for preschoolers through intersections with the Museum’s collection and an open-ended creative project. Museum educators co-plan with each classroom’s teaching team then implement a week-long class visit during which students record their discoveries in video, written response, and photography. Students also have the opportunity to visit CMA and participate in a hands-on, interactive experience with art. Each classroom also visits a new gallery station designed specifically for them around a work of art that aligns with their in-class explorations. The strategies and outcomes of Adventure Out are shared with both the early childhood education and museum education fields via conference presentations and CMA’s YouTube channel.

Adventure Out is presented by JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

Focus

Focus encourages conversations between two unique groups of students by sharing experiences through photography. Students from two high schools work together to photograph and edit images about their lives. Through photography, writing, and conversation, Focus provides an open forum for student discussion.

Focus Goals and Outcomes Worksheet (pdf)

Pressing Matters

Through the Pressing Matters program, the Museum forms partnerships with middle schools that lack arts programs in order to provide students with rich arts experiences. CMA staff brings authentic works of art to the classroom to engage students in a two-day, interdisciplinary learning experience. Students will explore social issues relevant to their own lives and will communicate their concerns through creative expression and experimentation. The program includes a day at the Museum where students will explore artwork from the Museum's collection and see the art that they have created on display. The National Endowment for the Arts recognized this program with a Challenge America Grant.

Pressing Matters is presented by an Ohio Arts Council Arts Partnership grant.

Pressing Matters Goals and Outcomes Worksheet (pdf)

Teacher Programs and Professional Development

Join us to find out how to transform your classroom into a 21st Century learning environment that encourages disciplined inquiry, collaboration, and creativity.

Teaching for Creativity Institute

Are you passionate about teaching and learning and motivated to develop classroom experiences for children that are authentically engaging? Do you believe that creativity is essential to education and want to incorporate it into your classroom experiences? If you do, and are willing to work with colleagues in a professional learning community to develop innovative ideas for your classroom, then sign up to participate in CMA's exciting new Teaching for Creativity Institute. Educators who apply and are selected for this competitive institute will become part of a community of learners that develop creative, engaging learning experiences for their students. Institute participants will receive training and support from CMA staff as well as year-long support from educational experts. You will also receive classroom materials and have the option of obtaining credit from Ashland University. Teams of educators from the same school or school district are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information, please contact Jessimi Jones at jessimi.jones@cmaohio.org

Educational Resources

Art and Social Issues

Aminah's World

To Live Forever: Ancient Egypt Webliography and Bibliography

Monet Educational Resources

Shout Freedom Educator Resource

Tour Reservation Request Form