Education
Temporary Exhibition Programming
Biggs Kids
Mini-Masters
First Friday
Art and Poetry
Junior Docent Program
Summer Art Series
Internships
Biggs to Go!: Outreach
Temporary Exhibition Programming
Programming is developed for every temporary exhibition held at the Museum to enhance the visitor’s experience and maximize all educational opportunities. Well-know ledged professionals such as artists, curators, authors and researchers headline each Exhibition Lecture Series, lecturing on related subject matters to the exhibition. Art at Lunch is a special component of the Lecture Series during each Temporary Exhibition, offering participants an opportunity to enjoy a lecture and lunch in the Museum.
Temporary Exhibition workshops offer participants an opportunity to physically engage in art forms related to the exhibition currently on display. Local artists and professionals lead hands-on workshops in the galleries providing a unique and intimate setting for inspiration and learning.
Biggs Kids is open to the public and is held in the Programs Gallery from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required each month and can be completed on-line or by telephone. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants per program and is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Biggs Kids is supported by the Mid-Del Charitable Foundation, Wilmington Trust and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Please see the Calendar for activity details at each month’s Biggs Kids.
Click Here to Register for Biggs Kids!
Mini-Masters is a free program for children ages 3-5 held on the second Wednesday of every month. Mini-Masters offers art educational programming similar to the Biggs Kids program, giving parents with preschool children a chance to explore art and the museum. Age-appropriate activities are designed to stretch the imagination, foster an interest in art, and introduce children to the Museum in fun and engaging ways. The program is open to the public and is held in the program gallery from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. All children must be accompanied by an adult to the program. Pre-registration is required each month and can be completed on-line and by telephone. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants per program and is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Mini-Masters is supported by the Mid-Del Charitable Foundation, Wilmington Trust and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Please see the Calendar for activity details at each month’s Mini-Masters.
Click Here to Register for Mini-Masters!
First Friday
On the first Friday of every month, the Biggs Museum, along with several other members of the Dover arts community, serve as a venue for downtown Dover’s First Friday program. First Friday is an effort to bring the public downtown the first Friday of every month to enjoy local art venues and activities. The Biggs Museum offers a free, family-friendly program each month. First Friday programs include First Look Party!’s, lectures, curator-led tours, interactive activities and performances. Pre-registration may or may not be required for the First Friday program.
Art and Poetry
Art and Poetry is an educational program held at the Biggs Museum annually in April, in honor of National Poetry Month. All poets can participate in the Art and Poetry program by selecting an object from the collection which inspires them and write a poem about the object. The public is invited to attend the annual Art and Poetry reception held on the first Wednesday of April to enjoy live readings of the poems and light refreshments with the poets.
If you are interested in participating in the 2010 Art and Poetry program, please contact Rebecca Cooper for more information.
Click here to read the poems from the 2009 Art and Poetry program!
Junior Docent Program
The Museum’s Junior Docent Program provides students and opportunities to learn about the visual arts, apply their knowledge to a specific work of art, and present their knowledge to their school peers. Students in participating schools visit the museum several times each fall. Classroom time and visits to the museum’s library are allotted to research the objects of their choice. In the spring, the Junior Docents lead groups of first- through fifth-graders on a tour of the museum and present information about the artworks they researched. This program helps the children to develop and utilize research, leadership and public speaking skills, all of which are important for personal and scholastic development. Please contact Rebecca Cooper for information on how to begin a Junior Docent Program for your school.
Summer Art Series: Youth Art Day Camps
Children can enhance their creative development at one of the three Summer Art Series Day Camps offered by the Museum. Three week-long sessions are offered every July to children ages 5-15. Summer Art Series activities include drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, gallery experiences, and interactive arts, including music, storytelling and poetry. All camps are staffed by a professional artist or educator.
Internships
Internships are offered by the Biggs Museum throughout the year and enable college students or recent college graduates to gain first-hand experience in their areas of interest or study. Interns, working under the guidance of Museum staff, assist with special projects, research and clerical support. Experience in Art, Art History, History or Marketing is recommended but not essential. All internships are offered unpaid which enables them to be used for academic credit. Students are responsible for making appropriate arrangements with their schools to receive credit for their internships. Hours vary and are flexible; however, a minimum of 10 hours a week is generally expected. Internships are available throughout the academic year as well as during the summer. To apply for an internship, please submit a resume, cover letter, three references and a short writing sample. If you are selected as a candidate for a potential internship, we will contact you to schedule an interview. For more information, please contact Rebecca Cooper.
Biggs to Go!: Outreach
Would you like for your classroom to experience the Biggs Museum but don’t have the resources to get them here? The Biggs Museum Educator will bring the museum experience to any school in Delaware free of charge. Students can learn about the various types of museums and their importance. We will also discuss the Biggs Museum collection and how it can aid students in understanding and learning about the history of our country. Outreach programs can be tailored to suit any grade level. Please contact Rebecca Cooper for more information.