NAEA Position Statement on the Benefits of Art Museum Learning in Education

NAEA believes art museum learning is a fundamental component to a high quality, effective, and balanced education.

Museum Environment

• Art museums are valuable cultural resources that offer a rich physical and social environment where individuals can experience and engage with original works of art from different time periods and cultures.

Knowledge, Meaning-making & Understanding

• Facilitated learning experiences with works of art cultivate global perspectives and an appreciation of diverse cultures, ideas, and human experiences.
• Firsthand study through facilitated discussion of original works of art engages people in making connections across disciplines and enriches their understanding of other subjects.
• Through close examination of artworks and facilitated discussion, people have the opportunity to learn about creative processes, techniques, and materials.

Skills

• The study of works of art promotes the development of creative and critical thinking skills that are important to success in life as well as in school. These include inquiry, analysis, and interpretation in addition to flexibility, imagination, observation, communication, empathy, and reflection.

Personal and Social Learning

• Art museum learning provides the opportunity to open people up to new ways of seeing, experiencing, and connecting to themselves, others, and the broader world.
• In art museums, people learn from each other, as well as from volunteer docents and guides, museum educators, artists, and other professionals. This allows them to gain confidence and knowledge about museums, as well as discovering the range of careers museums offer.

Cultural Appreciation and Participation

• Those who visit art museums often see the relevance of art in their lives, which allows them to develop an appreciation for cultural organizations. They are also more likely to use museums as a resource for lifelong learning in the arts.