Keeping Busy During the Renovation – a Note from Education

Now that word is spreading about the Addison closing for renovation and expansion, I imagine that many of you are in a state of panic over this news. Rest assured that here in the Education Department, we are doing everything we can to assuage your fears as we make plans for what will be happening between now and when we reopen in the spring of 2010.

First, let me say that there are still eight months for you to see an incredible range of exhibitions, bring your class to the Addison if you are a teacher, or attend any of our public events. Take full advantage now while you still can!

Once we do close, the Education Department will continue to meet with classes, both from Phillips Academy and area PreK-12 school groups, though we’ll meet in the classroom instead of the museum. We will also have an artist-in-residence who will be working in Lawrence, meeting with students from various schools.

While closed, we will have the chance to offer an even more extensive and varied selection of teacher workshops. These will include single-session workshops, like the ones we have always done, and mini-classes that will allow teachers to go into greater depth with the topics covered.

When it comes to our public events, we look forward to collaborating with other area cultural organizations in order to bring you lectures and films.

In addition to all of the plans described here, we will be developing a comprehensive plan for when we reopen with much-expanded education programs in the new Museum Learning Center. In case you thought that the Education Department would have nothing to do during the renovation, you can see that we will be keeping ourselves – and hopefully you – busy with art and ideas.

Amy Freedberg
Education Fellow