The Memorial Art Gallery and 91原创 City School District鈥檚 Expanded Learning Collaboration cultivates creativity, curiosity, and connection.
For Zayd, a fourth grader from School #33 in the Rochester City School District, the farm scenes painted by Clementine Hunter spark excitement. 鈥淚t looks like she painted her life,鈥� he observes during a recent visit to the 91原创鈥檚 (MAG).
Around him, classmates eagerly share what they see in Hunter鈥檚 paintings hanging on the gallery wall: clouds, trees, angels, and a big house that looks like a farm. After some discussion, the children listen to Kevin Carr, a teaching artist at the museum, read Art from Her Heart, a story about Hunter鈥攁 self-taught folk artist who began painting in her 50s and who worked her entire life on plantations across Louisiana.
The students then gather around Jacob Lawrence鈥檚 Summer Street Scene in Harlem. James raises his hand excitedly. 鈥淚 see lots of colors,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey make me happy.鈥� Solene sees a party, while others point out a food cart, shaved ice, and perhaps even a parade. From Beck Ugenti, another teaching artist, the students learn about Lawrence鈥檚 life, gaining deeper appreciation for the power of storytelling through art.
A path to empowerment
Since its inception in 2013, classes like this have participated in the (ELC), a free program between the Memorial Art Gallery and the Rochester City School District (RCSD) that has opened inspirational pathways for local students. Initially created to extend the school day with arts integration, ELC has grown into a multiyear experience that empowers young learners from historically marginalized communities.
For ELC students, art is more than something to look at鈥攊t鈥檚 a path to understanding, self-expression, and joy. According to Adam Koneman, the Estelle B. Goldman Museum Educator for School and Community Programs at the museum, the program fosters creativity, curiosity, and connection, helping students see art as a catalyst for exploring themselves and the world. They also learn about diverse artists, many of whom reflect the students鈥� identities, helping them think about their potential.
Each year, the ELC serves hundreds of students in grades 2 through 4, including those receiving special education services. Participating classrooms visit the museum weekly for 90-minute sessions over four consecutive weeks. During each visit, students explore the museum鈥檚 diverse collections, engage in thoughtful discussions, and create their own art in the museum鈥檚 Creative Workshop. This year, the fourth graders are making journals, illustrating their covers and pages with rubber stamps they鈥檝e made themselves. For many, it鈥檚 a favorite part of the program.
鈥淭he kids love it鈥攖hey really enjoy looking at pieces of art and then creating their own based on what they鈥檝e seen and discussed in the galleries,鈥� says Tracy Plyem, a special education teacher with School #45. 鈥淭he program gives them a real chance to experience art in a meaningful way and develop their creative brain, which helps them discover new interests and build confidence. They鈥檙e genuinely excited to participate鈥攊t鈥檚 the kind of excitement that can be hard to spark in a traditional classroom.鈥�
Changing young lives forever
A cornerstone of the program is its focus on equity and accessibility. The Memorial Art Gallery removes barriers by providing transportation, art materials, and trained staff鈥攁ll at no cost to partner schools. The program also works closely with teachers, offering professional development opportunities to help them weave arts-based strategies into their classrooms.
Sarah Jesse, the Mary W. and Donald R. Clark Director of the Memorial Art Gallery, emphasizes that art fulfills essential human needs for inspiration and intellectual enrichment鈥攁nd access to it through educational programs like this can change young people鈥檚 lives forever. 鈥淲e know that kids need basic services鈥攆ood, clothing, shelter鈥攖o survive. But to thrive, they also need food for the soul, food for thought, the kinds of experiences that an art museum like MAG can uniquely provide. By making MAG more accessible through programs like this, we鈥檙e providing transformational encounters with works of art that expands worldviews.鈥�
During the academic year, Jesse notes that, in addition to this program, the museum鈥檚 galleries are full of students who are here on school tours for what is often their first-ever visit to an art museum. 鈥淚 love reading the letters we get from kids after they visit because they remind me of the real impact that a field trip can have on a young person,鈥� she adds. 鈥淜ids are so receptive to the messages that artists communicate through their work, they鈥檙e so game to find meaning in art.鈥�
has underscored the like ELC. By integrating the arts, ELC nurtures critical thinking, historical empathy, and social understanding. With curated lesson plans and high-quality materials, ELC promotes visual literacy and deep engagement. Teachers report seeing quieter students come alive, too, and notice them sharing ideas and connecting with peers in new ways.
A win for all
Initially piloted in one 91原创 city school, ELC now includes three schools鈥�#19, #33, and #45鈥攁nd is guided by external evaluations, teacher feedback, and collaboration with the University鈥檚 . Recent enhancements emphasize social-emotional learning and improved accessibility, reflecting the program鈥檚 ongoing evolution.
Looking ahead, the Memorial Art Gallery is exploring ways to bring ELC experiences to schools that cannot visit in person. It has also introduced initiatives to engage students鈥� families, including free family passes, community days, and programs designed to increase museum access for underrepresented groups.
Koneman says that these steps help ensure that the Memorial Art Gallery remains a space where students and their families can connect with their community and embrace a lifelong interest in art. By the time students complete the program in fourth grade, they have developed creative skills, a sense of agency, and significant connection to the museum鈥攁 win for all involved.
鈥淢useums are the rare spaces where we can go and have the reasonable expectation of having a sort of epiphany鈥攚here we can expect to see something we鈥檝e never seen before or be exposed to a new idea,鈥� says Jesse. 鈥淎rt is an infinite resource, so we have an obligation to share our museum generously, welcoming everyone in our community, young and old, rich and poor.鈥�
The MAG-RCSD Expanded Learning Collaboration is made possible by generous support from the William and Sheila Konar Foundation and M&T Bank, with additional support from an anonymous donor, and the estate of Rosemary Christoff Dolan. Funding is also provided by the Guido and Ellen Palma Foundation, the Wan Jou Family Foundation in memory of Shi-Ling C. Hsiang, and Deborah Goldman.
