The Philadelphia Museum of Art invites K-12 teachers of all subject areas to immerse themselves in the Museum’s collections and explore the special nature of art and its use as a resource in their classrooms during this week-long seminar. Reinvigorate your creative spirit, connect with like-minded colleagues, and refresh your classroom teaching with new ideas.

Works of art often tell stories. The image or object an artist creates may relate a myth, a religious story, a historical event, a well-known fable or tale, or a story of their own invention. In turn, we weave stories as we look at and respond to works of art. During this summer’s VAST we’ll explore the Museum’s collections and special exhibitions, including Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney to discover the many ways stories can be told through art as well as the variety of ways we and our students can respond through art and writing.

Through lectures, small group gallery discussions, and writing and hands-on art workshops participants will engage in approaches and activities that can be used both in the Museum and in the classroom to promote looking, thinking and writing. Sessions will be led by Museum Educators and invited speakers, artists (including education staff from the Arden Theater Company). Off-site visits will include the newly reopened Rodin Museum. Teachers will be grouped into elementary, middle school, and high school work teams to facilitate meaningful discussion and brainstorming of curricular connections.

All VAST participants will receive a resource guide with background information on artworks, discussion questions, a resource list, and writing connections to bring back to the classroom.

Credits
VAST may be taken for several credit options:

• 30 Pennsylvania continuing professional education hours (Act 48)
• 30 New Jersey professional development hours
• 2 graduate credits in Art Education from the University of the Arts*

*Teachers opting for graduate credits at the University of the Arts must also register with the university by calling 215-717-6092. The course number is ED 8053C 01. An additional fee of $475 payable to the university applies. Those opting for graduate credit will also be required to complete supplemental reading and additional written work.

VAST is generously funded by the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation Fund for Education.