Cool Culture’s Seventh Annual
Culture Fair a Major Success!
On March 26, 2009, the South Street Seaport Museum at Schermerhorn Row housed over 450 Culture Fair participants; among them, educators, parents, museum representatives, as well as some of New York’s finest artists, all exploring how to create teachable moments and everyday learning experiences for young children as part of not only their visits to cultural institutions but also to utilize in their everyday lives.
Each year, Cool Culture Fair brings together New York City’s finest cultural institutions with educators of our youngest generation. The event is an opportunity for families and staff, and especially Cultural Liaisons from Cool Culture’s participating centers to learn about the great programs and exhibits that partnering institutions have to offer.
The fifty-three attending cultural institution partners, such as the Museum of Modern Art and the New York Botanical Garden, filled two rooms with booths at the Seaport Museum, eager to disseminate information about their family programs and meet the many Cool Culture liaisons and early education center guests.
Heather Brady, Head of Education at the Noguchi Museum, leads an interpretive session with early educators at the Round Robin workshop.
Lou Cesario, Director of Visitor Service and Volunteers at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, gives information to early educators about the Garden’s upcoming family programming.
Cool Culture early educators gear up for the start of the second half of the day’s workshops outside of the South Street Seaport Museum’s front doors.
Early educators get ‘hands-on’ during the Studio in a School’s practicum for building children’s art exhibits at their centers.
Amy Chase Gulden, Regional Director of Visual Understanding in Education, practices looking strategies with early childhood educators at the Learning to Look session
A cultural liaison implements her art-looking skills to examine a sculpture object from the Asian American Arts Centre.
Participants learn of art-looking opportunities in their own neighborhoods as Amy Hausmann, Assistant Director of MTA Arts for Transit,details the initiatives the organization has taken to bring the arts to the underground.
Members of the Crafting the Teachable Moment panel listen to Carol Sun, artist and teacher at the Bronx High School of Visual Arts, discuss themes embodied in her mosaic entitled A Bronx Reflection,featured at the 167th Street Station.
Our earnest gratitude to the South Street Seaport Museum for opening its doors to all of the Culture Fair participants and allowing educators to experience their wonderful historical setting. Thank you also to Fairway Market for donating food and beverage for the event.
Join us in making culture accessible. Thousands of low-income children and families are unable to enjoy New York City’s art museums, botanical gardens and zoos because they cannot afford the entry fees. You can help. Make a contribution and help place the arts within reach of all New Yorkers.
