NAEA Position Statement on Excellence in Art Museum Teaching

NAEA believes the opportunity to discover, experience, and appreciate original works of art from diverse cultures, times, and places is a vital part of a complete education and can be an important component of lifelong learning. Further, NAEA asserts that excellent teaching is necessary to foster profound and memorable learning experiences in the museum environment. Excellent museum educators use art to help people see and understand the world in a variety of ways and provide them with knowledge and skills to engage with and interpret art on their own.

To achieve excellence in art museum teaching, museum educators:

• Create a learning environment where people feel welcome, comfortable, safe, and respected, enabling them to engage in dialogue about works of art, with each other, and with the museum educator.
• Actively engage people in processes of creative and critical thinking through dialogue-based and participatory methods.
• Employ a variety of teaching approaches and strategies to connect effectively with diverse learners.
• Connect art to people’s lives by choosing objects that reflect the complexity and diversity of human cultures and experiences.
• Develop partnerships with preK–16 educators that support cocreation of meaningful museum experiences to support and - Develop partnerships with community organizations and community leaders that support collaborations that are mutually beneficial and transparent, resulting in true cocreation of programs and events.
• Design learner-centered experiences that address the needs, wants, and interests of their audience, community partners, and cocreators.

Education and preparation for excellent art museum teaching requires:

• An understanding of the history of the museum(s) where one works, as well as the history of art museum(s) worldwide, with special attention to histories of equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion—both absent and present.
• An understanding of the needs and characteristics of museum audiences, physical visitors, digital visitors, and nonvisitors alike.
• Knowledge of aesthetics, art history, art practice, art criticism, and other disciplines as they relate to works of art.
• Knowledge and application of educational theory, research, and practice relevant to the field of museum education.
• Knowledge of individual works of art and their makers, especially those artworks in the museum’s permanent collection - Professional development, ongoing learning, and reflective practice to enhance their effectiveness as art museum educators.