The Museum’s Arts-in-Education program is a series of integrated, interdisciplinary lessons designed for kindergarten through 12th-grade students. The presentations rely on direct observation of works of art from the Museum’s education collection. The program provides students with age appropriate lessons, each emphasizing creation, technique, history, criticism and aesthetics. Opportunities are provided for students to create and respond to art, learn about the placement of art in culture and history and make judgments about the quality of art. Lessons may include abstract/non-objective art, animals, book illustration, decorative arts, landscape, Native American arts, photography, portraiture, sculpture and still life, and can be found in our Teacher Resources section on this web site.

Arts-in-Education packages are booked by the week, which includes 20-25 art appreciation presentations by a Museum Educator. Additional sessions are available by the day. Special Arts-in-Education single-day programs also are available. Participating schools must provide the following: Class schedules for the Museum Educator; single location for presentation; assistance in unloading and loading artwork (custodian or student); safe storage for art and equipment while on property; and acknowledgment of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in all publicity.

All Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art education packages include Museum exhibition tours, which can be arranged at no additional charge at any of the four Museum facilities in Altoona, Johnstown, Ligonier Valley and Loretto.

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In-Service Training

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art’s education mission extends into its in-service training. Museum educators and artists will go into the schools and work with teachers on a specific discipline. The programs, which offer a unique opportunity to school faculty, encompass visual arts, a specific artistic medium, and a core subject. Each in-service training includes a hands-on component, and teachers will leave with specific projects and knowledge that can be used in the classroom. In-service training is available in half- or full-day formats.

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Act 48 Compliance

Although compliance with Act 48 is determined by school district and intermediate unit administrators, the museum’s Arts-in-Education programs have been developed to enhance and enrich the learning experiences of the classroom instructors as well as the students. Incorporation of these programs into future curriculum has become a mainstay, and compliance with Act 48 has already been granted to museum/teacher workshops, artist residencies and Arts-in-Education presentations throughout the region.  Please contact your superintendents and principals for final authorization and processing of all state mandated requirements, as they relate to our Arts-in-Education presentations.

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Artists-In-Residence

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the artist-residency component of the Museum/School Partnership Program offers students an opportunity to interact directly with artists in a student/mentor relationship with mutual involvement in the creative process. Presentations for core groups are designed to offer in-depth learning about particular artistic disciplines. Additional presentations are designed for the general student population, teachers, arts groups, and the community at large.

The Artist-in-Residency package includes a minimum 10-day school residency by a professional visual or performing artist, as well as the administration of scheduling, financial management, planning and evaluation. Participating schools must provide the following: one to three core group(s) of no more than 30 students to work with the resident artist; single location for presentation; safe storage for art and equipment while on property; acknowledgment of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in all publicity; and assessment of residency and presentations.  Please see page 17 of the Museum Education program booklet for fees and processing information.  Please use the map toward the back of the book to determine the home location of your artist and the Museum service region.

All Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art education packages include Museum exhibition tours, which can be arranged at no additional charge at any of the four Museum facilities in Altoona, Johnstown, Ligonier Valley and Loretto.

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Funding

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts offers competitive grants for artist residencies that are a minimum of 10 school days. Schools must submit a Residency Planning Form to apply for a matching grant. These applications can be found in the Applications and Evaluations section of this web site. To apply for monetary support from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, complete and return a Residency Planning Form to the museum before December 15. Recipients will be notified of their award by the following summer. Please see page 17 of the Museum Education program booklet for fees and processing information.