Successfully Sharing the Visual Arts with Children

While political figures today are wondering whether to pull funding from art galleries that house controversial exhibits or ban controversial exhibits from public galleries, teachers are beginning to wonder whether or not it is advisable to visit public art museums with their children at all. Visiting an art museum has changed from a guaranteed g-rated class field trip to a potentially x-rated fiasco. What's a teacher to do?

Before visiting any art museum today, it makes sense to place a phone call to the museum curator or education department. Ask what, if any, controversial art is being exhibited. Find out if there is any way to avoid viewing objectionable art exhibits, while still enjoying the museum's main body of art works.

Discuss the children's art program with the education director or museum curator of your local art museum. Many museums feature special child-centered hands on programs for school children. Docents may be available to help guide your class through the museum, as well.

Planning Your Class Visit A visit to a local art museum can be a uniting, educational, and thought-provoking experience. Take time to plan your visit so that it is appropriate for your students' educational interests and physical needs. Find out ahead of time which galleries and specific art works that you wish to share with your class. Familiarize yourself as to where the benches, restrooms, museum shops, and cafeterias are located.

Avoid turning your students off to the arts by overdoing it. If you are visiting a large museum, limit your visit to two or three galleries, depending on age levels and abilities. Short, frequent visits are much more productive than long, tedious ones. No matter how involved you are with the arts, if you overextend your childrens' attention spans, the visit will become tedious and trying for every member of your group.

Talk to your class before planning a trip. Look through art books together and discuss what things they are most interested in seeing. Try to allow for each member of the group to choose at least one art work to view during your museum visit.

Plan for the unplanned, as well. Your class may show interest in a work of art you did not plan on viewing. As long as it is appropriate for them, spend time discussing it. Allow your students to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions during your discussions of each art work.

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