Education - Sponsored Programs

Nassau County Museum of Art is a major cultural attraction in Long Island, NY. The Museum is nationally known for its four major annual exhibitions displayed in its historic mansion, its 145 acres of nature preserve, its formal gardens and its sculpture park.

Thanks to state and federal funding, corporate and foundation support, the Education Department offers a wide range of programs for its museum visitors.

Sponsors:

Funding is generously provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), New York Community Bank Foundation, The David Klein Jr Foundation, Astoria Federal Savings, Bank of America, Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation, NCMA Annual Ball. Assemblyman Charles D. Lavine, Senator Craig Johnson, Member of Assembly Michelle Schimel.


Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)	New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)

Culture And Language Through Art

Thanks to a National Leadership Grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Nassau County Museum of Art is partnering with the Queensborough Community College Literacy Program to develop CALTA (Culture and Literacy Through Art). This innovative multi-generational visual literacy program uses art as a catalyst to develop literacy and critical thinking skills for adult immigrant English language learners and their families. Further objectives include building common cultural references, connections to community resources, and appreciation of the arts. CALTA (Culture and Literacy Through Art) builds on extensive research and experience building visual literacy to assist ELLs, teachers and families

This planning phase includes 1) a survey and literature review to determine national need and identify similar efforts; 2) the development of a curriculum; and 3) the piloting of a professional development institute for docents, museum educators, and adult ESL educators.

CALTA has been identified by IMLS as a program that will have a national impact in the museum field and serve as a model to museums across the nation.

Museum PALS (Pairing Art and Literacy in Schools)

Thanks to New York State Council of the Arts, Deasy School at Glen Cove School District and Park Avenue School at Westbury School District participate in this program. The PALS program is an innovative museum/school collaboration which enriches the education of English language learners (ELLs) and their teachers. The goal of the program is to use visual literacy as a means to develop language. Students and teachers learn, by looking at art, how to decode an image and find meaning in it. The image becomes text, and the same skills needed for literacy are applied to a visual image. Students learn new vocabulary, engage in conversations and get inspiration for writing while looking at original artwork in a museum setting. Students not only build critical thinking skills necessary for reading comprehension, but also collect imagery and cultural references that build background knowledge and improve writing skills.

Each participating school selects students and teachers that will participate in the program and they visit the museum two times during the school year, each time to view a different exhibition. Teachers participating in the program receive two Professional Development/Orientation sessions before each museum trip. During these sessions teachers preview the exhibition, discuss curriculum connections and pre and post visit activities that will help students develop the vocabulary necessary for their museum visit. Museum Education staff will also train teachers and administrators on how to facilitate a discussion while looking at art and discuss different questioning strategies that can be used when looking at images.

For each exhibition every teacher receives an Educators Resource Packet that includes:

Educators Guides with background material and suggested pre and post visit activities
CD of images from the exhibition
Exhibition catalogues and posters
Educators Pass for unlimited, free entry to the museum
Museum education staff visits the school to prepare students prior to their museum visit. After each trip every student receives a Free Family Pass for up to 6 people for each exhibition, encouraging return visits with family members