High School Programs

High School Seminar | Studio Workshops | Advanced Art History Workshop

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 by making personal connections through artmaking. Behind-the-scenes visits with museum professionals introduce career possibilities. The program culminates with student presentations of research on artworks in the Gallery's collection and completion of an original art work inspired by that research.

Sessions meet for ten Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the exceptions of October 15 and January 7, which conclude at 3:00 p.m. Attendance at all ten sessions is mandatory. Lunch will be provided.

The 2011–2012 schedule:

October 15, 22, 29
November 19
December 10, 17
January 7, 21
February 11, 25

The High School Seminar is a partnership between schools in the Washington, DC, 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 education assistant for the High School Seminar at (202) 842-6905.

High School Studio Workshops
Warhol: Headlines

High School Studio Workshops will focus on the exhibition Warhol: Headlines, opening September 25 and the first to explore Warhol’s career-long obsession with the theme of headlines, particularly those found in the tabloid press. Through a variety of techniques—painting, drawing, prints, photographs, and video—students will see how Warhol altered and reoriented original texts and images to recreate the meaning of contemporary events dealing with celebrity, death, and disaster.

These two-part workshops include in-depth examination and discussion of works of art in the exhibition, 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.

Following the gallery discussion, students will create a work of art inspired by the subjects and techniques encountered on the tour. The studio project will reinforce what students discover during their tour, as they will 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. 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.

The workshops begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m. on the following dates:
October 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31
November 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 18, 28, 29, 30
December 2, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14
Homeschool dates:  October 17 and December 9

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

Registration begins on August 1 at noon.

High School Studio Workshops Registration Form

Advanced Art History Workshop: The Real Object

How can observing and discussing works of art in a museum setting support high school art history students? This program provides participants with opportunities to critically analyze original works of art. Students will discuss how artistic intention and cultural context affected the form, style, and meaning of objects related to the theme of the "Figure in Art." This workshop traces the changing appearance and meaning of the figure from the late Byzantine period through contemporary depictions. Working in the galleries with specially trained museum educators, students will hone their skills in careful observation, interpretation, and essay writing through a variety of guided activities. Although this program is designed for Advanced Placement Art History and International Baccalaureate students, all students of art history are encouraged to attend.

Teachers may register to bring their classes on the following dates:

• Thursday, March 15, 2012, 10:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 10:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Students may register individually for a workshop on the following dates:

• Saturday, March 24, 2012, 10:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
• Saturday, April 21, 2012, 10:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Attendance is limited to 30 students per session.

Teachers and students: please call (202) 842-6905 to register for a session.

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