School Tours Pivot to PMA Classroom
By Meghan Quigley Graham, Associate Educator for Youth Learning
Art museums should have schoolchildren in them. While the PMA officially re-opened its doors in June, the galleries don’t feel quite the same without kids on Free School Tours, discovering new voices, making new connections, and hopefully developing a lifelong passion for art and an understanding of how it can transform lives. This year, the PMA even launched a new partnership to deepen the collaboration between the museum and the city’s schools.
When we began planning and developing ideas for Portland Public Schools and Portland Museum of Art Partnerships (PPS/PMA Partnerships) in spring 2019, the goal was to move away from one-way conversations and towards a true partnership in which everyone is equally invested and working towards shared goals. It began as a simple idea to spend more time connecting with people in the PPS district and evolved into the formation of lasting partnerships and deeper understandings of how we can be better resources for each other.
Before the closure of the PMA and of public schools in March, we had developed plans for the 2019-20 school year with our partners: Melissa Maher at East End Community School (EECS), Louis-Pierre Lachapelle at Lincoln Middle School (LMS), and Peg Richard at Casco Bay High School (CBHS). Each customized partnership would be different, but all three focused on creating opportunities for deeper connections between the students and the museum.
After the closures, we heard from partners about the joys and struggles of remote learning. Teachers moved their classrooms to a digital platform, many of which were new to them. Art teachers had to figure out how to move visual-art projects to the remote-learning environment, while being mindful of the often-limited resources students had at home. One of the joys was that teachers found new community and camaraderie with fellow educators, often developing lessons together and sharing them with all of their students collectively. We are constantly amazed at the flexibility and resiliency that Maine’s educators show when faced with challenging circumstances, and they approached this new reality with creativity, grace, and care.
“A problem with a lot of community work is that it’s usually just one way. When the work is reciprocal, that is very valuable. When both sides are saying, ‘we are invested in what you all are interested in and what you are doing in your space. We want to explore what challenges you have – we also have the same challenges. How can we solve them together?’”
— Louis-Pierre Lachapelle
This year’s partnerships and the sudden shift to the virtual classroom helped inform our new digital initiative for all school audiences. PMA Classroom, which debuts next week, is the museum’s remote learning option for Maine educators and students. This digital platform helps us reach new audiences and focus on PMA values in art education: student agency and voice, open-ended experiences, art as a springboard for conversation, and collaboration and partnership with educators. The first phase of PMA Classroom features thematic, downloadable, curriculum-based lesson plans for many different content areas. PMA educators will also offer the option to collaborate with educators to customize lesson plans specifically for their students’ interests and needs.
“The PMA asked, what kind of program do YOU want to do and what will best benefit your students? It provided the chance for the kids to not just look but to also create something that is valuable for them and their communities. Partnerships like this empower them and provide a chance to express themselves—responding to art and having a voice. Having a chance to work and create something of their own. This partnership was not just about students going to the PMA, but also the PMA going into their space.” — Louis-Pierre Lachapelle
While it will take time for Free School Tours to return to our galleries, we’re expanding our suite of resources for Maine educators and students across the state through PMA Classroom. And within Portland, we’re developing our PPS/PMA Partnerships in deep and unexpected ways.
Learning & Interpretation programming is made possible by the generosity of the Arthur K. Watson Charitable Trust, AVANGRID Foundation, Inc., the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, the Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Unum, Marguerite and William J. Ryan, Sr. , Onion Foundation, and the Peggy L. Osher Education Endowment.
A version of this feature originally appeared in the summer 2020 issue of PMA Magazine. To receive our award-winning magazine delivered to your mailbox, become a member today!
As always, we want to hear from educators in Maine! There are so many ways to be involved as we move forward – from developing lessons to serving in an advisory role. If you are interested in being more involved, please contact Meghan Quigley Graham.