High School Programs

High School Seminar

Studio Workshops

High School Seminar

Using the rich collections of the National Gallery as a resource, this multiple-session program introduces upper-level high school art students to the study of art history, art-making techniques, and museum careers. As part of a community of like-minded students, participants learn about art and the museum by discussing original works in the galleries, researching themes of their choice, and making personal connections through making art. Behind-the-scenes visits with museum professionals introduce career possibilities. The program culminates with student presentations of research on works of art in the Gallery's collection and completion of an original work inspired by that research.

Sessions meet for ten Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.—with the exception of the first day, which concludes at 3:00 p.m. Attendance at all ten sessions is mandatory. Lunch will be provided.

The 2009–2010 schedule:

October 17 and 31
November 14 and 21
December 12
January 9
February 6, 20, and 27
March 13

The High School Seminar is a partnership between schools in the Washington metropolitan area and the National Gallery of Art. Students must be sponsored by their art teachers. Only one student per school will be accepted.

Student requirements and sponsoring teacher responsibilities

For more information, contact the High School Seminar education assistant at (202) 842-6905.

The World in Dutch Art: Judith Leyster and Her Contemporaries
High School Studio Workshops

These studio workshops provide students and teachers with an introduction to Dutch art through works from the National Gallery's permanent collection and the special exhibition Judith Leyster, 1609–1660. High-school students will explore works of art created during a period when religious and political upheaval changed the way art was made, acquired, and appreciated. For the first time, most paintings were made for an open art market. Art lovers from all walks of life, especially those of the recently formed middle class of bankers, merchants, and craftsmen, displayed paintings and other precious objects in their homes as expressions of their newfound prestige.

Workshop participants will gain a better understanding of:

• 17th-century Dutch culture and the role of a woman artist within that society;
• how paintings both reflected reality and created idealized fictions; and
• how the new open market system influenced how artists made art.

These two-part workshops include an in-depth examination and discussion of works of art in the galleries followed by a related one-hour studio activity. Workshops are taught by museum educators specially trained for this program, who will encourage students to look carefully at the art and share their reactions, formulate theories based on observations, and make connections between art and life. Students should come to the workshop prepared to participate in group discussion.

With artist-quality pastels and paper, students will create a still-life composition using tones and themes inspired by paintings in the Dutch galleries. This project reinforces what students discovered during their tour, since they access the main ideas from a different point of view—as creators.

A minimum of 20 participants is required to reserve a date; up to 30 students may participate in a single workshop. Please let us know if your numbers change so that we can accommodate another school. A single school may request no more than two workshop dates.

Homeschool Groups
In order to accommodate more homeschool students, we have designated two dates for homeschoolers. Please fill out the registration form below.

The workshops begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m. on the following dates:

September 28, 29, 30
October 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28
November 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18
Homeschool dates: October 9, November 16

High School Studio Workshops Registration Form

Please address questions to highschoolstudioworkshops@nga.gov or call (202) 842-6905.

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