Springfield Museum of Art

The Springfield Museum of Art will build its capacity to work with preschool children and teachers by expanding the professional development components of its Artful Play program. The Artful Play program engages children in exploring open-ended early learning through artwork, galleries, and studios at the museum. The museum will expand its work with early childhood education students at Clark State Community College and Wittenberg University, helping them integrate art with preschool curricula through program observations, professional development workshops, and lectures. The museum will strengthen its partnership with the Columbus Museum of Art and both institutions will send educators to the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center for shared learning and professional development. An external evaluator will provide a report that will guide the museum in establishing future priorities for strengthening the impact of its preschool program development.