Museum-School Partnership Opportunity

The Textile Museum seeks school partners from District of Columbia Public and Public Charter Schools for a unique student textile art project tied to Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep (February 3, 2012 through January 6, 2013).

"This partnership is truly thoughtful and generous. I was very impressed with the visits to Textile Museum and on campus, transportation accommodations and now these beautiful certificates. The students will greatly appreciate the recognition of their work in the Visual Arts!" -Paige P. Byrne, Participating Teacher in the 2010 Museum-School Partnership, Horace Mann Elementary, Washington, D.C.

• Description of Project
• Project Goals
• Project Details
• How to Apply

Partnership with The Textile Museum includes:

• Introductory meeting and a private tour for teachers of Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep at The Textile Museum on Wednesday, February 22, 4 - 6 pm.
• An interactive tour of the exhibition for students between March 21 and April 20.
• 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 in April and May.
• Funds for project supplies and bus to visit the Museum.
• Display of artwork in The Textile Museum’s Myers Room in June 2012.
• School’s name and class project description in public program materials for the Celebration of Textiles on June 2 and 3, 2012 - attended by nearly 2,000 people in 2011.
• A certificate for each student and recognition ceremony at the Celebration of Textiles.

Left: Students involved in the Museum-School Partnership learn about the origins of fiber during a tour led by a museum docent. Right: Students on a school tour dress up in examples of cultural costume after visiting an exhibition of Uzbek ikat robes.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

The Textile Museum invites all classes in the District of Columbia Public and Charter Schools to apply for participation in the 8th annual Museum-School Partnership program. Students will visit the Museum to learn about the current exhibition, Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep, 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 2012, and will be presented to the public during the annual Celebration of Textiles, June 2 - 3, 2012.

No previous textile experience is necessary. This partnership program relates to four strands of the Visual Art Standards, including; artistic perception, production and creative expression, historical and cultural context and aesthetics, valuing and perspectives of art. 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.

Students from Thomson Elementary School (Ward 2) pose with their classroom’s textile art project made through the Museum-School Partnership

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 22, 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 18, 2012.
• Attend the recognition ceremony with their classes at Celebration of Textiles (transportation provided by museum).
• 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 2012 Museum-School Partnership is open through COB Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

For additional information, call (202) 667-0441, ext. 76.