OF SIGNIFICANCE | NORTON AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

The Norton Museum of Art, located in West Palm Beach, Florida is widely known for its high quality exhibitions and learning experiences. However, the museum has taken it one step further in the establishment of their Afterschool Arts Outreach program. The arts education program provides supplies and teachers for around 600 students ages 5-18 on an annual basis. With a focus on underserved areas in the surrounding county, Norton Museum of Art hopes to engage as many kids as possible by bringing the art and activities to them.

This program has a lustrous 26-year history that has not only showcased the educational benefits for the students, but the lasting effects of continued interest and resulting self-confidence. A recent evaluation of participants and their families expanded on these effects and reported that students "believed that the program helped them to accept making mistakes, feel better about themselves, talk to adults and teachers, work cooperatively with peers, and be proud of their artwork".

Courtesy of Norton Museum of Art.

Courtesy of Norton Museum of Art.

The program serves seven different locations throughout the county, but also provides free access to the museum as well as integrated art history courses along with music, performing arts, and literature. The Afterschool Arts Outreach program even extends beyond after school with a eight-week course during the summer that focuses on a selected topic. This past summer, the students learned and experienced architecture. Looking at both the past and present, the students also looked towards the future of design and created their own structures. The highly interactive program included building challenges, art activities, and field trips to FAU School of Architecture.

In their continuing mission to expand students' minds with integrated art activities, discussions, and experiences, the Norton Museum of Art wishes to also provide these students with a platform in which to share their youth voices. This admirable and long-standing ideal has garnered the Afterschool Arts Outreach program a position as one of 50 finalists for the 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Regardless of this significant validation, the Norton Museum of Art will continue to support their artistic community and their future generations.