Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupted traditional art museum field trips for K-12 students. The UNT Art People: Museum Educators in Residence Program was developed in the College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) at the University of North Texas (UNT) in 2021 in response to this challenge. Through two implementation cycles, the program identified ongoing benefits for integrating museum education into K-12 classrooms and has continued to meet the needs of students. With an innovative approach to arts education, UNT Art People places museum educators in a K-12 classroom setting to engage students in critical thinking by exploring local contemporary artists and artworks. The program leverages collaborations between classroom and museum educators to implement learning experiences that bridge the gap between the classroom and museum community. It employs a place-based educational framework to create culturally relevant and experiential learning opportunities. This paper explores the underlying motivations and methodologies of the UNT Art People Program and provides insights into how its successful strategies can be adapted and implemented in other educational settings.