Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art will plan and implement a project for elementary and high school students that prompts them to create their own artwork in response to the ecological and economic impacts of marine debris on coastal communities. Students will engage with American artist Duke Riley and his exhibition at the museum, which will address the topic of marine debris. With support from the project team, consisting of a local teaching artist, museum staff, and school-based educators, the students will research, design, and create site-responsive, environmentally conscious, public art installations that prompt visitors to consider the impacts of marine debris. As a result of this project, students will gain a deeper knowledge of human impacts on the environment, in particular how marine debris endangers coastal communities. They will also gain experience in collaboratively creating a public-facing art project.