A BRIEF HISTORY:
“The National Gallery of Art was conceived and given to the people of the United States by Andrew W. Mellon (1855–1937). Mellon was a financier and art collector from Pittsburgh who came to Washington in 1921 to serve as secretary of the treasury. During his years of public service he came to believe that the United States should have a national art museum equal to those of other great nations.”
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY:
“The mission of the National Gallery of Art is to serve the United States of America in a national role by preserving, collecting, exhibiting, and fostering the understanding of works of art at the highest possible museum and scholarly standards.
Policies and procedures toward these goals are cumulatively set forth in the Gallery’s legislation, bylaws, trustee action, and staff guidelines. The following general definitions outline the goals of the Gallery.
- Preserving
- Collecting
- Exhibiting
- Fostering Understanding
The Gallery’s role as an institution dedicated to fostering an understanding of works of art operates on a broad spectrum. From advanced research conducted by its curators, conservators, and at its Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts to the dissemination of knowledge to visitors and to the widest possible online audiences, the Gallery seeks to educate. The Gallery reaches out to students of all ages and to the general public through informed publications on its collections and exhibitions and an array of educational programs, films, and online initiatives. It acquires both print and digital publications, photographic images, and other research materials related to its collections and to the history and appreciation of art in general; and it makes these resources available online or by appointment through the library, gallery archives, and curatorial records. The Gallery recognizes that both the dissemination of information and the enhancement of the aesthetic experience are essential to fostering understanding of works of art. Ancillary programs furthering its aesthetic role, such as concerts and changing horticultural displays, have been part of the Gallery’s mission virtually since its inception and have expanded to include outdoor programs in the Sculpture Garden since its opening in 1999.”
EDUCATION STAFF & VOLUNTEERS:
Listing is relatively nonexistent; likely because they are a large institution. Who are they???????
How does this anonymity affect their connection to the community?
WEBSITE OVERVIEW
“Educational and enrichment programs for visitors, both virtual and in person, are central to the mission of the National Gallery of Art.”
The education portion is divided into 6 main categories:
TEACHERS, NGAKIDS, FAMILIES, TEENS, ADULTS & INTERNS & FELLOWS
The following are a highlight of the opportunities based on their 6 categories.
TEACHERS
Free image downloads, lesson plans (preK-University level), information on school tours and programs, professional development and learning resources (able to be borrowed).
Commentary:
-Some grade lesson plans include ELL lesson plans!!
– # of lessons and variety in topics/integration available is greater for higher grades
-Lesson Plans and Learning Resources could be combined…..or let’s just use them as the College/University lesson plans?!
-No quick reference to light box that I could see. Would be useful for high school and college/university professors.
http://images.nga.gov/en/lightbox/show_lightbox_page.html
NGAKIDS
Interactive art creating opportunities, such as:
https://www.nga.gov/education/kids/kids-seasaws.html
https://www.nga.gov/education/kids/kids-collagemachine.html
No longer available online but available for download or through iPad app as well.
FAMILIES
“Family Programs at the National Gallery of Art are based on a philosophy of slowing down, focusing on one work of art, developing observation and thinking skills, inspiring curiosity and wonder, and fostering collaboration between children and adults. Many of the programs are age-specific, while others are designed for a broader age range.”
Art Investigators: Ages 4-7
Free drop-in programs, designed for individual families on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no advance registration. Program includes reading a children’s book, exploring one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity.
Family Workshops: Ages 8-11
Workshops include a conversation in the galleries followed by a hands-on studio art session. Designed for children and adults to work together. Workshops are free but preregistration is required. Sessions available on Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays (morning and afternoon times).
Film for Children & Teens: All Ages
TEENS
Information about Volunteer Programs & Films for Teen (Repeated Feature)
“Student volunteers assist with clerical and administrative tasks that support the department’s education programs. Typical activities include preparing materials for art projects, photocopying, collating, and program cleanup.”
Fall or Spring Semsters
4-8 hrs per week
Uncompensated
ADULTS
Drawing & Writing Salons (using art as inspiration for creating), Evening at the Edge(live music, theatrical performances & films), Podcasts & Videos, Gallery Talks, Lectures & Book Signings, Guided Tours, Food for thought (seminar luncheon discussion, free but preregistration required), Artist + Artist (Conversations with artists about how objects inspire their practice)
INTERNS & FELLOWS
Graduate Curatorial Internships, Internships in the Museum Profession, Summer Internships, Curatorial Fellowships, Research Assistantships.
Privilege given to graduate students and curatorial, conservation and librarian positions.
ACCESSIBILITY:
Financial Accessibility: Free, money not an issue; highly accessible by public transportation.
Hours are Monday–Saturday 10:00–5:00 and Sunday 11:00–6:00.
?: How is free programming advertised? Is knowing about the opportunities privileged or more open to those who seek out the information themselves?
Linguistic Accessibility:
Tours of permanent collection offered regularly, free of charge in Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Can also be requested in Hebrew, Hungarian, and Portuguese.
Image/Data taken from Ten Years of Language Access in Washington, DC by the Urban Institute (Think Tank focusing on Social and Economic Policy Research)
Phys
ical Accesibility:
Programs for ASL, Low vision/vision impaired, early stage memory loss, and medical professionals. Service Dogs permitted and complimentary wheelchairs available for use.