Showcasing Student Art and KidsFest

at the Springfield Museum of Art

About

The Springfield Museum of Art partnered with four schools and one community site in the Springfield City School District, as well as four local community gardens, and used Nellie Mae Rowe’s work as inspiration for in-classroom and after-school art and music programs. After learning about Rowe, teachers and students were asked to design an art project that was temporarily installed on the garden grounds. Students created public sculptures and musical performances responding to different elements and styles found in Rowe’s life and work. The artworks were also displayed at KidsFest, a family program celebrating Rowe, for all visitors to enjoy.

Intended Outcome

Knowing most of their visitors were over the age of 50, the Springfield Museum of Art hoped that this youth-focused program would help strengthen school partnerships, encourage brainstorming and collaboration among students, and leave an impression of the museum in local greenspaces and parks through the display of the students’ public art. The museum hoped to engage 825 students and community members through the program.

Actual Outcome

Across the partnering schools, 975 students and community members participated in this program. Additionally, 1,000 people, including the families of participating students, attended KidsFest and had the opportunity to see the students’ work on display at the museum.

Advice Post Project

Be intentional with the communities and demographics you are interested in serving and tailor program experiences to them. The Springfield Museum of Art began by identifying which specific zip codes and neighborhoods its visitors did not come from and invested resources to develop a program that helped foster relationships with not only children but also their support network of schools and families. Engaging community members in their own spaces—through student-made public sculpture, school visits, and yard signs—and then unifying those communities by offering public programs on the museum’s campus helped local audiences build a positive impression of the museum with multiple interactions and experiences.