School Programs
Come to the Barnes, or we’ll come to you. Our programs will nourish your students’ imaginations and serve your curricular goals.
Professional Development
The Barnes offers many ways for teachers to expand their learning and integrate art into their classroom curriculum. Join our Teacher Advisory Board or take a class or workshop. Learn more below, and sign up for teacher emails to be notified of all future events.
Teacher Advisory Board
The Teacher Advisory Board (TAB) is a cohort of Philadelphia-area pre-K–12 educators who share our belief that art has the power to improve minds and transform lives.
The board meets with School Programs staff three or four times a year to discuss ideas for new programs and educational resources that align with curriculum standards and encourage students to make personal connections with art. TAB members receive complimentary Patron memberships, which include free admission and deep discounts for a full year.
Applications for 2024–25 are now open. Apply by September 27, 2024, to be considered.
Museum Education Graduate Program
Saint Joseph’s University’s new online graduate program, offered in partnership with the Barnes, is designed to prepare future museum educators for roles in public and private institutions. Beginning in fall 2024, the museum education graduate program will offer a Master of Arts in Museum Education and a Museum Education Certificate. The program teaches graduate students how to share knowledge with everyone from K–12 school groups to museum guests in an engaging and inclusive way. Participants will learn strategies for teaching about objects and collections and develop skills applicable to any type of museum, including art and natural history museums, science institutes, and historical sites.
Teacher Workshops
The Barnes is committed to our education community and meeting the needs of students and teachers by offering professional development opportunities. Hour-long workshops led by Barnes educators are available to groups of 8–100 for $10 per person. Self-guided admission to the galleries before or after your session is available for an additional $5 per person. Choose from the workshops below. Catering is available for an additional cost. Learn more below and request a session today.
Arts Integration and Literacy; 1 Act 48 credit hour
How can art support the study of English language arts in the classroom? Learn effective strategies for integration with literacy.
Arts Integration and Social Studies; 1 Act 48 credit hour
Art is the perfect tool for supporting learning about cultures, history, and geography. In this workshop, we will discuss best practices for using art to teach social studies.
Arts Integration for Your Classroom; 1 Act 48 credit hour
How can you use museum education strategies to support your students? Learn the principles of teaching in and through the arts and how to implement this connective pathway toward reaching students in your own classroom.
Classes with Act 48 Credits
The Elements of Art; 75 credit hours
Fourteen 3-hour sessions will increase your understanding of art-related concepts, the ways you think critically about art, your ability to communicate about art, and your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own. This class is offered in the Barnes collection or online.
The Traditions of Art; 75 credit hours
Fourteen 3-hour sessions will focus on the developments in the painting and sculpture of Western Europe. Examining how all artists—including modernists working in the 19th and 20th centuries—learn and adapt earlier traditions. This class is offered on-site in the Barnes collection.
Additional Classes
The Barnes–de Mazia Adult Education Program builds on Dr. Albert Barnes’s groundbreaking approach to teaching visual literacy through art. When you take a class with our expert instructors, you’ll not only increase your understanding of art-related concepts but also sharpen your critical-thinking skills and gain a deeper appreciation of cultures and histories outside of your own. Classes take place on-site and online, using innovative technology that lets you to get up close to art in ways you haven’t before. No art background is needed; curiosity is the only requirement.
Scholarships are available. See all classes.
Summer Educator Institute
Returning in summer 2025, this multiday, Act 48–eligible institute features hands-on workshops with Barnes staff and special presenters, with exclusive access to the collection and special exhibitions. The institute includes art making and building resources for classroom lessons, including lesson plans and ideas for integrating art across the curriculum into content areas such as English language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Sign up for teacher emails to stay informed.