Target Audience

These courses are recommended for teachers of grades K–12 of all subject areas who would like to become more comfortable looking at and talking about art, and teachers who wish to explore the ways in which art and the Museum’s collections can enrich their classroom studies. Teams of up to four teachers from the same school are encouraged to apply. Enrollment for each course is limited to forty teachers.

Special lunchtime programs provide teachers with opportunities to meet colleagues in their own subject areas and grade levels and discuss ways of bringing what they learned at VAST back to their classrooms.

Each participant will receive special teaching resources containing reproductions and information on selected works of art in the Museum’s collections, as well as gallery and classroom activities, related articles, and a bibliography.

Course One
July 7–11, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
ART OF THEIR TIME: The Middle Ages

During week one, teachers will examine the rich history and cultures of the Middle Ages as they explore the Museum’s collections of medieval architecture, sculpture, painting, stained glass, and decorative arts. Working with Museum educators, curators, and invited artists, teachers will explore how art and artifacts tell the story of their time and bring history to life. Strategies for bringing these discoveries back to the classroom will be discussed throughout the week.

Course Two
July 21–25, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
ART OF OUR TIME: 1945–2007

During week two, teachers will re-examine recent history by focusing on modern and contemporary art. The Museum’s collections will serve as a springboard for discussions about the definition of art, the function of the artist, and how art reflects both the person who created it and the world in which it was conceived. Teachers will hear from curators, scholars, and practicing artists as well as Museum educators, who will introduce strategies for using modern and contemporary art to complement curriculum.

Course Highlights

Participants in this summer's program take part in a wide variety of activities:

• lectures and workshops led by Museum educators as well as guest artists, educators, and scholars
• demonstrations, performances, and films
• small group discussions in the Museum’s galleries
• behind-the-scenes meetings with Museum curators
• hands-on studio explorations
• writing workshops
• field trips to other cultural institutions in Philadelphia

Credits

Each one-week VAST course may be taken for several credit options:

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

Teachers opting for graduate credit will be required to complete supplemental reading and additional written work.

Fees

Week One: $200 Members, $250 Nonmembers
Week Two: $200 Members, $250 Nonmembers
Both Weeks: $300 Members, $400 Nonmembers

Location

VAST is held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 26th Street, Philadelphia. The Museum is served by SEPTA bus routes 7, 32, 38, 43, and 48. Teachers from beyond commuting distance to the Museum are welcome to apply. However, you will need to make your own arrangements for room and board. A list of suggested accommodations can be obtained from the Museum’s Division of Education.

Registration

To register, call the Museum’s Ticket and Reservation Center at (215) 235-SHOW (7469), 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please specify whether you will be taking the course for professional development hours or graduate credits.

There is a service charge of $2.50 for Museum members, $3 for nonmembers for reservations made by phone. There is no service charge for reservations made in person at the Museum.

Teachers opting for graduate credits in Art Education at The University of the Arts must also notify the university by calling (215) 717-6092. An additional fee of $484, payable to The University of the Arts, applies.

For more information, please contact Education: School & Teacher Programs by phone at (215) 684-7333, by fax at (215) 236-4063, or by e-mail at .