At the Improve Group we feel that the arts and a strong education go hand in hand. It is very personal for co-worker Samantha Hagel and me. We are both 5-year veteran volunteers of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts’ Art Adventure program. This unique, fun and highly effective program exposes children in K-6 classrooms all over the State of Minnesota to the great variety of art presented at the Institute.

Susan Murphy & Samantha Hagel with Art Adventures training booklet

To become a school docent you will attend a Picture Person training that gives you tips on how to present the works of art to the students. After learning how to teach the art, you get a marvelous education in the pieces you will be presenting by a very knowledgeable MIA docent. After doing this for a few years it feel like you are getting your own art appreciation degree. Picture People are led around the museum to hear about the artists, their lives, the genres and to questioning the instructor in the same way you may be questioned when you reach the classroom.

The final step is to take eight, large, beautiful poster reproductions of the art theme your school selected and bring them into the classrooms. The students have an amazing ability to see a myriad of things going on in each piece. With so many themed sets of art available each year the experience stays fresh. Picture People also have a great web resource on the MIA site allowing them to look for activities they can do with the students.

Lucky classes will follow up with a field trip to the MIA to see the artwork in all its glory. To learn more about this great volunteer opportunity please click here, and watch for a follow-up from our 2009 classroom visits here on the IG blog.