How might works of art spark engagement, support critical thinking, and foster social-emotional wellness in both students and educators?

This year the National Gallery of Art is sponsoring two off-site, regional Mini-Institutes for Educators, hosted by partner museums in “Across the Nation,” a national program bringing masterpieces from the national collection to museums near you. As part of “Across the Nation,” the National Gallery is partnering with ten museums to bring together K-12 educators from these select states for regional convenings: 

Educators from these states please join the National Gallery of Art’s and partner museums’ teacher programs teams for two days of sessions to discover how looking slowly at and discussing works of art can powerfully impact teaching and learning! Sessions will explore how art can build understanding across curricular subjects, develop dialogue skills, illuminate the human story past and present, spark creative expression, and foster empathy, motivation, and social-emotional flourishing. Learn from top educational scholars, artists, and practitioners in plenary sessions and in-gallery workshops. Connect with a national community of innovative teachers in a host city and museum.

This learning retreat aims to reinvigorate teachers with fresh approaches for the school year ahead. Museum educators will model how to use looking and discussion strategies, like thinking routines, to engage students with works of art. Teaching Artist Workshops will encourage personal reflection and creative expression to complement the learning experience. Teaching strategies used in the Mini-Institutes will be supported by the National Gallery’s Teaching Critical Thinking through Art and Teaching Complex Thinking through Art online courses and will highlight some of the “Across the Nation” works of art on loan. Teachers will receive a letter verifying 15 hours of professional development credit at the conclusion of the program.

The Mini-Institutes will empower educators of all levels, subjects, and roles to bring art into their practice in ways that make a difference for students and revitalize the joy of teaching.

As part of acceptance into the Mini-Institute, each participant will receive a fellowship stipend. This includes a waived participation fee. Each accepted participant who lives out of state from the host museum location will receive a stipend of $500 from your regional museum toward airfare/train/transportation reimbursement. “Across the Nation” will cover two nights of hotel accommodations at the selected conference hotel. Participants may choose to extend this reservation on their own, if desired.

Registration web links, fellowship participation agreements, and more information will be provided in the acceptance email. All program materials will be provided for participants.

Selection will be based on quality of application. Consideration will focus on the individual's statement of purpose, the Institute topic's connection to curriculum or student needs, and anticipated teaching outcomes. Following the program, participants will be asked to submit a one-page reflection summarizing how they will apply their experience at the Mini-Institute to daily education work. 

The 2025 Midwestern and Eastern U.S. Mini-Institute for Educators: Teaching the Whole Student through Art will be offered on Thursday afternoon, August 7 through Friday, August 8, 2025, at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa. The Midwestern and Eastern U.S. “Across the Nation” partners of the Figge Art Museum, the Flint Institute of Arts, the Mint Art Museum, and the New Britain Museum of American Art are collaborating with the National Gallery to facilitate this program.

Educators of all grade levels and subjects in the collaborating states of Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, and North Carolina are welcome to apply by Tuesday, May 27. Ten educators from each region will be selected and will receive a travel stipend.

Scheduling

Applicants must be able to commit to attend the entire program held August 7-8, at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA. Sign-in will begin on Thursday, August 7 at 3:00pm, with a program to follow into the evening, with dinner provided. The program on Friday, August 8, will begin at 8:00am and finish by 6:00pm, with breakfast and lunch provided. Sessions will take place in the host museum’s meeting spaces and galleries. A detailed schedule will be sent to applicants who are accepted to the Mini-Institute. 

Application Process

Ten educators from each museum partner’s region of Connecticut, North Carolina, and Michigan, and thirty educators from the hosting museum’s region of Iowa will be selected to participate in the Midwestern and Eastern U.S. Mini-Institute for Educators and will receive a registration waiver. Those traveling from out-of-state will receive a travel stipend.

Participants to the program are selected through an application review process by your regional museum. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose including

1. A 150 to 250–word statement explaining your current pedagogical approach, why you would like to attend the Mini-Institute, and how the topic relates to your education practice.
2. A 50-word plan for sharing what you learn from your Institute experience with students and/or colleagues upon completion of the program.

Applications are due Tuesday, June 3, 2025, and applicants will be notified of acceptance by Friday, June 6. Apply today to participate in the 2025 Midwestern & Eastern U.S. Mini-Institute for Educators.
 

The 2025 Western U.S. Mini-Institute for Educators will be offered on Friday afternoon, September 19 through Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, Nevada. The Western U.S. “Across the Nation” partners of the Anchorage Museum, the Boise Art Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Whatcom Museum are collaborating with the National Gallery to facilitate this program.

Educators of all grade levels and subjects in the collaborating states of Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Washington are welcome to apply by Monday, June 30.

Scheduling

Applicants should plan to commit to attend the entire program held September 19-20, at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, Nevada. Sign-in will begin on Friday, September 19 at 3:00pm, with a program to follow into the evening, with dinner provided. The program on Saturday, September 20, will begin at 8:00am and finish by 6:00pm, with breakfast and lunch provided. Sessions will take place in the host museum’s meeting spaces and galleries. A detailed schedule will be sent to applicants who are accepted to the Mini-Institute.

Application Process

Ten educators from each museum partner’s region of Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Washington, and thirty educators from the hosting museum’s region of Nevada will be selected to participate in the Western U.S. Mini-Institute for Educators and will receive a registration waiver. Those traveling from out-of-state will receive a travel stipend.

Participants in the program are selected through an application review process by your regional museum. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose including
1.    A 150 to 250–word statement explaining our current pedagogical approach, why you would like to attend the Mini-Institute, and how the topic relates to your education practice.
2.    A 50-word plan for sharing what you learn from your Institute experience with students and/or colleagues upon completion of the program.

Applications are due Monday, June 30, 2025, and applicants will be notified of acceptance by Wednesday, July 16. Apply today to participate in the 2025 Western U.S. Mini-Institute for Educators.