BAM Featured in Exhibition of Student Artwork Presented by AAMD and the U.S. Dept. of Education

Exhibition Spotlights Work of Students Created in Innovative Educational Programs Highlighting 21st-century Skills

BOISE, ID —The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), in partnership with the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C., presents the exhibition Museums: pARTners in Learning 2015, on view in Washington from May 6 – June 30, 2015. The third exhibition in this collaborative initiative with AAMD, Museums: pARTners in Learning 2015 features artwork created by students participating in innovative educational programming at AAMD member museums offered in partnership with local schools. This year, the exhibition highlights programs organized by 16 museums from across the United States, including the Boise Art Museum, and spotlights a wide range of cross-curricular initiatives that seek to develop students’ transferrable skills both inside and outside of the classroom.

On view at the U.S. Department of Education, Museums: pARTners in Learning 2015 celebrates new developments in arts education fostering such “21st-century skills” as creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, cultural awareness, and collaboration. The exhibition showcases the remarkable achievements of K-12 students across the country, and underscores the wide range of interdisciplinary skills students can acquire through arts education, as well as how direct engagement with the arts supports student learning and personal growth.

For the program at the Boise Art Museum, in December 2014, museum–trained docents provided a Free School Tour to a class of 27 5th grade students from Riverstone International, a local independent school. Teacher Jay Nelson scheduled this particular tour due to its connection to Riverstone International’s curriculum objectives, Common Core standards, and the National Visual Arts Standards. Students analyzed puns, idioms, metaphors, and similes based on artwork in the Museum’s exhibition, A Matter of Taste: Food for Thought. They then created artwork in BAM’s art studio based on their interactive tour at the Museum. When asked about their experience at BAM, the students listed the interactive, in-gallery activities and discussions as the most enjoyable part.

As a continuation of the project, back in the classroom the students discussed the concepts introduced on the tour. Students expanded on the artwork they started at BAM and others created new works inspired by their experience. They were then asked to write a statement to correspond with their artworks. After the projects were complete, the students voted on which artworks would be included in the Department of Education exhibition. According to Nelson, this project helped students better understand “how we as a culture interpret symbols and use metaphors/similes/idioms.”

“Boise Art Museum is proud to participate in the national AAMD and U.S. Department of Education project to feature the creative artwork of Idaho students and the important educational partnerships we have initiated in our community,” stated Melanie Fales, BAM Executive Director and CEO.

“Museums are an invaluable resource in complementing our schools’ curricula by offering access to cultural content and fostering the creativity and innovation young people need to be successful in the 21st century,” said Chris Anagnos, executive director of AAMD. “We are so pleased that Boise Art Museum is participating in Museums: pARTners in Learning 2015, and is dedicated to strengthening students’ core skills through educational programming that promotes learning, engagement, and creativity in the Treasure Valley. We are excited to partner with the Department of Education once again to tell the story of how schools and museums are working together to enrich the quality of education in new ways.”

AAMD’s 242 members serve more than 40,000 public, private, charter, and home schools a year, with programs ranging from single-visit tours to intensive, long-term partnerships that include shared teaching, curriculum design, assessment, and professional development. Museums often pay for students’ transportation, especially those at high-need schools, and offer professional development for teachers, programs for students with special needs, and college preparedness for high school students. All AAMD museums place education at the core of their mission. Further information about the exhibition is available at www.aamd.org/partnersinlearning.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Art Exhibit Program, now in its 12th year, produces seven exhibitions each year. Members of the public who would like to visit Museums: pARTners in Learning 2015, please contact Jackye Zimmermann (Jacquelyn.Zimmermann@ed.gov; 202-401-0762) to schedule an appointment.

Boise Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational, and charitable organization. The Museum is nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Support is provided by BAM members, contributions and grants from individuals, corporations and foundations, as well as grant funding from the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Boise Art Museum (BAM) is located downtown in Julia Davis Park. HOURS Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday, Noon – 5 PM. Open 10 AM – 8 PM the first Thursday of each month, featuring admission by donation all day. ADMISSION $6 General, $4 Senior (62 and over), $3 Full-time Student (w/ ID) and Children (Grades 1-12). Children under 6 and Museum members are always free. Boise State University students gain free admission with their valid student ID card, through 8/23/15.

Boise Art Museum │ 670 Julia Davis Drive │ Boise, Idaho 83702 │ 208-345-8330 │ www.boiseartmuseum.org

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Contact: Melanie Fales, 208-345-8330 ext. 11