Arts education cultivates literacy and a wide range of skills and mental habits, resulting in stronger, more confident thinkers who are better equipped for scholastic success.

According to research by the National Endowment for the Arts, however, the underserved student populations that have the most to gain from arts education are getting it the least. That is why we are proud to partner with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville on its Voice of the People program, which creates literacy-rich art education experiences for Title I elementary school students at an important stage in their academic development.

Students in this program learn to see artworks as complex texts that they can interpret themselves through thoughtful observation and speculation. The museum environment engages children’s attention and facilitates their intrinsic creativity, curiosity and wonder. Professional educators help the students develop their ideas and present them confidently.

How it works

During several visits to MOCA, students are introduced to the Permanent Collection, from which they select works of art that speak to them. The students analyze the works, prepare descriptive narratives and create recordings that serve as part of the Museum’s audio guide, accessible to all those who visit the galleries and view the chosen works of art.

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Students write interpretive essays about their chosen artworks, starting with an examination of formal elements, such as line, color and texture. Image courtesy of educator Kiersten Lampe.

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