Art Around the Corner

Art Around the Corner is a set of programs that partners the National Gallery of Art with D.C-area Title I elementary schools.  In Art Around the Corner, students visit the National Gallery to engage in critical- and creative-thinking activities to make meaning from art, acquire art vocabulary in context, and create art in response to what they see.

The program’s mission is to provide quality multiple-visit programs for students and teachers that deepen understanding of art, strengthen critical thinking, and broaden life experiences.

Art Around the Corner offers several programs: the Multiple-Visit Program, the Mini-Multiple-Visit Program, and the Fairfax County Public Schools Title I Program.

Multiple-Visit Program

The Art Around the Corner Multiple-Visit Program brings fourth and fifth graders in selected District of Columbia Public School (DCPS) Title I elementary schools to the National Gallery up to ten times over two years to experience original works of art and make personal and interdisciplinary connections with them. In small groups, students look closely at works of art, engage in open-ended discussion, role-play, sketch, write and make art. All lessons are tied to Common Core State Standards and DCPS Learning Standards.

Students receive pre- and post-visit activity books to prepare for and reflect on their Gallery lessons as well as sketchbook-journals to use in the museum. Each lesson is guided by an essential question and has a featured artist or theme.

Classroom teachers receive children’s books and art reproductions to engage students in arts-integrated activities between Gallery visits. They also participate in professional development workshops to learn how to integrate art into the curriculum.

The program also serves families during special AAC Family Days at the museum.

Art Around the Corner provides all transportation, curriculum materials, student booklets, art reproductions, art making materials and professional gallery teaching staff.

Mini-Multiple-Visit Program
The Mini-Multiple-Visit Program extends the learning opportunities of Art Around the Corner to a broader audience of Title I students. This program includes one visit to the classroom by Gallery teachers and two visits to the museum by participating students, all within one week. Visits are connected by an interdisciplinary theme; for example, storytelling in art and math in art.

Art Around the Corner 2019-2020 was made possible by The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., Dr. Margaret A. Goodman, the Mark and Carol Hyman Fund, the Harman Cain Family Foundation, the JTK Fund of the Arlington Community Foundation, and the Janice H. Levin Fund.