Education

Temporary Exhibition Programming
Art and Poetry
Junior Docent Program
Summer ArtVentures with Bigsby
Internships
Biggs to Go!: Outreach

Temporary Exhibition Programming

Programming is developed for every temporary exhibition held at the Museum to enhance the visitor’s experience and maximize all educational opportunities. Well-know ledged professionals such as artists, curators, authors and researchers headline each Exhibition Lecture Series, lecturing on related subject matters to the exhibition. Art at Lunch is a special component of the Lecture Series during each Temporary Exhibition, offering participants an opportunity to enjoy a lecture and lunch in the Museum.

Temporary Exhibition workshops offer participants an opportunity to physically engage in art forms related to the exhibition currently on display. Local artists and professionals lead hands-on workshops in the galleries providing a unique and intimate setting for inspiration and learning.

Art and Poetry

Art and Poetry is an educational program held at the Biggs Museum annually in April, in honor of National Poetry Month. All poets can participate in the Art and Poetry program by selecting an object from the collection which inspires them and write a poem about the object. The public is invited to attend the annual Art and Poetry reception held on the first Friday of April to enjoy live readings of the poems and light refreshments with the poets.

If you are interested in participating in the 2012 Art and Poetry program, please contact Rebecca Cooper for more information.

Click here to read the poems from the 2009 Art and Poetry program!

Click here to read the poems from the 2010 Art and Poetry program!

Click here to read the poems from the 2011 Art and Poetry program!

Junior Docent Program

As part of our commitment to educational programming, the Biggs Museum partners with local schools to host a Junior Docent program. This program provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about the visual arts, apply their knowledge to specific works of art, and present their knowledge to their peers. Over the course of the program, Junior Docents build a visual arts vocabulary, develop communication and critical thinking skills, and learn about the cultural history of the Museum’s collection. Student participants choose several objects from the Museum’s permanent collection to research. The Biggs Museum will loan library materials to the classroom for students to utilize while learning how to examine the art objects of their choice critically in order to understand the processes involved in the creation of the object. The Museum Educator visits each participating classroom to provide assistance to the students with their research and in developing their interpretations of Museum objects. The Junior Docents also create works of art throughout the year as they are inspired by objects in the Museum’s collection. The program concludes with dynamic and engaging Junior Docent led guided tours of the Museum for classmates and family members along with an exhibition of the student’s artwork. We have proudly partnered with Campus Community School for the last nine years. This is a free program for participating schools and we are always looking to bring the Biggs Museum’s collection to a new group of students. Please contact Beccy Cooper at 674-2111 ext. 1010 or bcooper@biggsmuseum.org for information on how to get your school involved.     

Summer ArtVentures with Bigsby
and Summer ArtVentures Writing Camp

Young artists, ages 5 to 10, can spend their summer days with Bigsby the Bumblebee at the Summer ArtVentures: unique half-day art adventures designed to inspire creativity by creating original works of art. Young writers, ages 11 to 15 can spend their summer days at the Summer ArtVentures Writing Camp.

Each ArtVenture is led by Museum staff and is held in the Museum for one week from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Each ArtVenture Writing Camp is led by Museum staff and is held in the Museum for one week from 1 - 4 p.m.

Children will explore the Biggs Museum during these ArtVenture camps and discover many different types and styles of art such as painting, sculpture, drawing and collage. Each participant will then create art just like the artists featured in the Museum. This camp will encourage your child to reach beyond the ordinary and let their imaginations soar! Things may get messy so be sure to bring a smock or wear old clothing! ArtVenture Participants must pre-register. The Summer ArtVentures programs fee is $125 for Family Members and $150 for Not-Yet Family Members. All materials are provided by the Museum. 

Click here to register for Summer ArtVentures.    

Internships

Internships are offered by the Biggs Museum throughout the year and enable college students or recent college graduates to gain first-hand experience in their areas of interest or study.  Interns, working under the guidance of Museum staff, assist with special projects, research and clerical support.  Experience in Art, Art History, History or Marketing is recommended but not essential.  All internships are offered unpaid which enables them to be used for academic credit.  Students are responsible for making appropriate arrangements with their schools to receive credit for their internships.  Hours vary and are flexible; however, a minimum of 10 hours a week is generally expected.  Internships are available throughout the academic year as well as during the summer.  To apply for an internship, please submit a resume, cover letter, three references and a short writing sample.  If you are selected as a candidate for a potential internship, we will contact you to schedule an interview.  For more information, please contact Rebecca Cooper.

Biggs to Go!: Outreach

Would you like for your classroom to experience the Biggs Museum but don’t have the resources to get them here? The Biggs Museum Educator will bring the museum experience to any school in Delaware free of charge. Students can learn about the various types of museums and their importance. We will also discuss the Biggs Museum collection and how it can aid students in understanding and learning about the history of our country. Outreach programs can be tailored to suit any grade level. Please contact Rebecca Cooper for more information.