Museum-School Partnership Opportunity

The Textile Museum seeks school partners from District of Columbia Public and Charter Schools (grades 1 through 6) for a unique student textile art project tied to The Art of Living: Textile Furnishings from the Permanent Collection (February 12, 2010 through January 9, 2011). Download an application (pdf).

• Description of Project
• Project Goals
• Project Details

Partnership with The Textile Museum includes:

• Introductory meeting and a private tour for teachers of The Art of Living: Textile Furnishings from the Permanent Collection at The Textile Museum on Wednesday, February 24, 4 - 6 pm.
• An interactive tour of the exhibition for students between March 30 and April 9.
• A Textile Museum docent to assist with understanding gallery content and brainstorming ideas for a textile art project. A museum docent will coordinate 3 to 6 visits to the participating schools between April 15 and May 20.
• Funds for project supplies and bus to visit the Museum.
• Display of artwork in The Textile Museum’s Myers Room in June 2009.
• School’s name and class project description in public program materials for the Celebration of Textiles on June 5 and 6, 2010 - attended by nearly 3,500 people in 2009.
• A certificate for each student and recognition ceremony at the Celebration of Textiles.

Students from Stuart Hobson Middle School with their textile banner, alongside the banner created by Davis Elementary School, both participants in the 2009 Celebration of Textiles which was inspired by the exhibition Constructed Color: Amish Quilts. Photos by Bill Petros.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

The Textile Museum invites all 1st through 6th grade classes in the District of Columbia Public and Charter Schools to apply for participation in the 6th annual Museum-School Partnership. Students will visit the Museum to learn about the current exhibition, The Art of Living: Textile Furnishings from the Permanent Collection, then choose an aspect to represent in their artwork. Collaborating with their teacher and a Museum docent for several months, students design and create an original piece of textile art. The final project will be installed in an exhibition space adjacent to the museum's lobby for the month of June 2010, and will be presented to the public during the annual Celebration of Textiles, June 5 - 6 2010.

No previous textile experience is necessary. Applications are reviewed by a committee of local art educators and textile artists, and up to three classes, with maximum of 30 students each, are selected. The Textile Museum matches each partnership school with a Museum docent who will work with the teacher and students from February to May toward project completion.

PROJECT GOALS

• Educate students about the textile arts and the cultures that produce textiles.
• Provide an opportunity for local schools to partner with The Textile Museum.
• Provide an opportunity for students to create and display textile art.

PROJECT DETAILS

The classroom teachers will:

• Attend an initial meeting and special tour on Wednesday, February 24, 4 - 6 pm.
• Work with students and a museum docent to design and create unique textile art inspired by the exhibition.
• Deliver artwork to the Museum on May 20, 2010.
• Attend the recognition ceremony with their classes at Celebration of Textiles.
• Meet project specifications and deadlines.
• Dedicate sufficient time to completion of project.

The Textile Museum will:

• Assign a docent to work with each class.
• Provide funds to teacher for project supplies.
• Provide a specialized tour for educators and later, for students.
• Document the project through photographs.
• Display class artwork in June at the Museum.

HOW TO APPLY

Download an application (pdf)

The application period for the 2010 Museum-School Partnership is open through COB Friday, January 29, 2010.

For additional information, call (202) 667-0441, ext. 35.