Nurture Through Art

The New Britain Museum of American Art’s Nurture Through Art: Infant to Teen programs enhance children’s appreciation of art through interactive projects, various themes, and engaging artwork. Artistic backgrounds provide a strong foundation for intellectual growth, as well as promote self-confidence and emotional expression. Our programs accommodate all ages and focus on each stage of artistic development in your child’s life. Nurture through Art: Infant to Teen receives support from the DECD. If you have any questions or want to sign up contact (860) 229-0257, ext. 227.

Programs for Early Learners:
: Playdates with Art (ages 0-2)—
This every other month, hour-long program teaches parents and caregivers to talk to their babies about art, recognize and respond to signs of visual stimulation, and use art as a resource to promote visual literacy. Led by Museum educators and docents, the program will explore a different theme each month through a story, gallery exploration, and sensory play session. Appealing to the first stage in a baby’s life, this program hopes to introduce art in an engaging and positive way. Classes start at 10 a.m. and the next program is scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2015.

Early Childhood Learning Program (ages 3-5)—The Museum offers a six-session museum curriculum to encourage creativity in preschoolers. Each visit focuses on a different element of art, through stories, close looking, movement, music, exploratory art making, and reflection. Our program will help prepare your child for Kindergarten by promoting self-expression, creativity, and encouragement through art. Groups may come for the entire curriculum, or visit for one or more individual sessions.

(ages 3-5)—Young children and their caregivers are invited to discover art together and listen to stories on Saturdays from 11-11:45 a.m. at the Museum. This program develops visual and verbal literacy skills with active reading, close looking at a single work of art, and a related art project. Children (and caregivers) will be both entertained and mentally engaged during this period of fun and learning!

Programs for Children:
(ages 6 & up)—NBMAA welcomes children to make the most of their summer with five, week-long learning experiences filled with creative hands, engaged minds, and smiling faces. Campers will explore the Museum’s galleries and outdoor sculpture garden for inspiration to create personal works of art to take home. Art making activities take place in the Museum’s beautiful and light-filled American Savings Foundations Art & Education Center, with views of Walnut Hill Park. Each week campers will work with a variety of media, including clay, watercolor, and paint, while learning printmaking, drawing, painting, and sculpture.

(ages 6-8)—On Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-noon, students are welcome to explore their creativity by using varied methods and materials to create personal works of art. Themes and projects vary from week to week allowing maximum exposure to diverse artists, artworks, and ways of art making. See what inspires you and get creative! Artistic expression provides a strong foundation for future success by promoting confidence and imagination in children.

(ages 8-10)—Students delve deeply into various art materials, processes, and production through month-long sessions held on Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. Each session will be led by different artists-in-residence who specialize in diverse media, and guide students through all stages of the creative process. From conception to completion students receive personal guidance and encouragement from professional level artists! By embracing their creativity, students discover their talents and enhance their ways of learning.

Programs for Youth & Teens:
(ages 11-13)—Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. Students hone their drawing skills while learning about the history and practice of art in an informal, social setting. Museum educators and visiting artists introduce concepts through gallery chats and interactive projects. Working in the Museum’s creative space students will be surrounded by art as they work on their projects at their own pace and receive individualized instruction from talented artists. At the end of each monthly class, leaders facilitate group reflection sessions to help students learn and improve.

Teen Fellowships (ages 14-18)—High school students learn the inner workings of the Museum as youth interns in the Education Department, while also acquiring community service credit hours. Students may provide hands-on assistance with studio classes, prepare and maintain art supplies, design activities for the ArtLab, and work with Museum staff on a variety of other creative projects that provide experience and exposure to the museum profession.

Creativity at work in the American Savings Foundation Art Studio.