Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Family Learning Programs at the Cincinnati Art Museum
Grant Application:
The REC and Family Learning programs at the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) provide arts education and engagement opportunities for Cincinnati children of all ages and their families. Individual programs include Baby Tours (infants 0-2), REC Reads (ages 2-5), CAM Kids Day (ages 2+), Summer Camp (ages 6-12), and the 10x10: Teen Art Expo (ages 13-19), as well as Artist Workshops, Studio Classes, Creative Reuse, and Family First Saturday (for all ages). Goals and objectives of Family Learning programs are: to teach children by making, looking at, and talking about art; to make exhibitions and the permanent collection more accessible for families; and to introduce children to talented local artists and performers. Programs occur online and throughout the museum building and grounds, with the REC as a central “hub.” Through these programs, CAM is able to offer Cincinnati's children the powerful benefits of arts education and engagement.
Grant Evaluation Report:
While we have had to adjust our goals and expectations around overall numbers this year, we are proud to have been able to slowly bring back in person programming and reach families at a time when connection and inspiration have been desperately needed.
After more than a year of almost completely virtual family programming, this year CAM focused on the process of transitioning back to in-person opportunities. Although COVID-19 variants and especially a case surge over the winter months still required flexibility, by March 2022, this transition was complete, and we were able to welcome back all Family Learning programs in person.
CAM Kids Day took place virtually from September 2021 to February 2022, and then returned in person from March onward. Each virtual event included 5-6 different themed activities including videos from museum staff and guest artists, scavenger hunt prompts that could be done out and about in a child’s neighborhood or in the museum itself, artmaking activities, and more. In person, CAM Kids Day includes artmaking and interactive activities and a live performance. Between March and May, we had 620 children attend CAM Kids Day in person. Sensory Saturdays have also returned, allowing children with developmental disabilities to enjoy the museum in a less crowded environment.
Also returning to an in-person format this year, monthly Baby Tours have remained extremely popular, reaching capacity every month. For those who do not attend in person there are still a monthly newsletter, self-guided tours, and activities. 85 people attended in-person tours between March and June, and the monthly newsletter mailing list has a total of 175 families.
Artmaking experiences including Artists Workshops, Creative Reuse, and Studio Classes, all of which allow families to interact with art together across generations, also resumed by March. 160 people were able to participate across the three programs.
The REC has remained open in some capacity since September 2020 and has offered full in-person artmaking since July 2021 (with take-home kits also still available). We have been able to feature an interactive artist installation for the summer months: Re-Imagination created by Jim Tucker and Michael Thompson. After briefly pausing REC operations for three weeks in February due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, we have seen a steady rise in attendance since reopening in March. The REC has had 20,136 visitors so far this fiscal year (as of July 31, fiscal year ends August 31).
In the spring, we held the fifth annual 10 x 10 Teen Art Expo. Nine teenagers were on the volunteer committee (which met primarily online)—planning the event, soliciting art submissions, and participating in judging. The committee chose the theme “My Culture,” to encourage their fellow students to visually express their identity, community, and beyond. We received 272 submissions, with 60 schools represented. The top 130 were on display at the museum for a week, hanging in the third-floor gallery, while all other submissions were shared in a slideshow on display in the same space.
Finally, Summer Camp for 2022 is currently underway. Camp is in more demand than ever, with all eight weeks selling out within two hours. 192 children, ages six to twelve, are attending camp this summer with topics such as Make it Mini, Paint Party, and Inspiration and Imagination.
Website:
http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org Amount: $35,000
Date: October 2021
