Over the past year, Access Programs at MoMA and New York City Public Schools’ District 75 Office of Arts Education took part in an extended partnership serving students with disabilities across the five boroughs. Through a professional development series, teachers in this district were provided with arts programming that focused on social-emotional learning and community-building. As part of this series, teachers participated in programs at the Museum to develop facilitation strategies to more deeply engage students in conversations about art and reflections on their own creative practices. These programs also gave teachers access to an ongoing community of support, ideas for classroom activities, and art supplies for their students.
Back in the classroom, teachers introduced students to the works of diverse artists in the Museum’s collection, which served as inspiration for collaborative mural and daily sketching projects exploring color, abstraction, patterns, and portraiture. These activities offered students multiple opportunities for self-expression and empowered them to build community and have fun.
The Museum of Modern Art strives to create a space for New Yorkers with disabilities to express themselves and feel seen, heard, and valued. We are committed to creating programs and resources that support participants’ unique goals, learning styles, and abilities.
For more on MoMA’s commitment to accessibility and information about upcoming programs, please visit moma.org/visit/accessibility/.
Organized by Lara Schweller, Associate Educator, and Theresa Rodewald, Assistant Educator, Access Programs and Initiatives, MoMA, in collaboration with Amanda McFee, Director of Arts Programs, District 75 Citywide Programs, New York City Public Schools.
