Museum Education in the Spotlight

Like yoga? Want to spend the night with your scout troop in a museum? Prefer your art via podcast? Trying to enliven your classroom discussion of American history? Keep an eye on the programs listing of your local art museum: strange and wonderful experiences await you, as described in The New York Times's special museums section. At least two of the articles deal directly with museum education: one for adults and one for children (in their classrooms). It is very encouraging that museums are bolstering their programs, even if it is often in a desperate effort to attract audiences in these lean times. Museum education departments have long employed creative programming and innovative collaborations to attract visitors, both individuals (families with young kids, teens, young professionals, retirees, people with special needs, etc.) and institutions (schools, social groups, religious organizations), some of which are described in the paper. It is rewarding that these efforts are getting some notice.