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Summer arts at the Art School
Summer Arts
at the Danforth Art School
Each summer, the Danforth Art School welcomes close to 500 students to make art with us. What many folks don’t realize is that these students are supported by an incredible team of around twenty studio assistants! These exceptional teens serve as crucial members of our learning community and help everything to run smoothly during daily operations.
Mary Erickson Visitor Services
“When we reopened with pandemic precautions, it was a joy to welcome people back! They felt safe in our space and were clearly happy to be here. During this time, I personally took solace in Rebecca Hutchinson’s Midnight Blooms exhibition. It called me to sit and meditate, a soulful respite in a crazy time.”
“Our success in meeting our 2021 goal was made possible through a generous $50,000 matching challenge initiated midyear which drew considerable support from donors new and established. Despite the interruptions of Covid, we continued to see support, benefiting from three new funds. A new Art Acquisitions Fund, and the two new endowed funds, The Joan E. Murtaugh ‘61 Art Conservation Fund and the Paul B. Rosenberg Fund for Museum Education. These funds were established in 2020, yielding their first distributions in 2021.”
Chandra Taylor
Art School Manager
“Remote learning had its challenges. However, we chose to look at opportunities presented rather than focus on setbacks. I particularly enjoyed implementing the monthly Faculty Spotlights to celebrate our instructors as well as concocting drink recipes to pair with artwork from the Museum’s Permanent Collection for our Virtual Drinks at the Danforth events. We shipped boxes of art supplies to participants for this event in order to curate a fun and creative experience for all.”
Barry Burlingham
Gifts and Stewardship
Our assistants make fun behind the scenes here!
Over the course of a week, students bond with their assistants during studio time as well as snack breaks and while enjoying tours at the Danforth Art Museum. Our instructors share project goals with their assistants and often, the assistants will create sample artwork to help the students understand the goals of a lesson. Assistants meet every morning with school staff to check in about what is happening in the studios, share ideas and get to know each other as a community.
Over the course of a week, students bond with their assistants during studio time as well as snack breaks and while enjoying tours at the Danforth Art Museum. Our instructors share project goals with their assistants and often, the assistants will create sample artwork to help the students understand the goals of a lesson. Assistants meet every morning with school staff to check in about what is happening in the studios, share ideas and get to know each other
