Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

Purpose: Supporting Lifelong Learning The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art will promote lifelong learning through its Family Learning Initiative. The museum will increase innovative programming targeted at families, building a continuum of programming and participation by offering hands-on events for families on the same day each month. The museum will produce and distribute resources and interpretive materials, including a Family Tool Kit, to promote family interaction while visiting the museum. Floor plans, museum hours, and information on exhibitions will be included, along with educational components and questions to help parents facilitate a dialogue with children about a work of art. The museum will print family guides for each major exhibition, with information about the art on view and activities and open-ended questions to encourage interaction among family members. The museum will develop an interactive component to its Web site for families to explore at home. The Web site will offer information about artists and exhibition themes, games based on the process of looking at and responding to art, and opportunities for families to share their comments on the exhibitions. The museum will also explore ways to encourage children who visit with school groups to return with their families; for example, by distributing bilingual free passes to students in tour groups.