Kids as Curators
in the Annex Gallery
February 12 though March 26, 2005

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The Erie Art Museum has forged a unique partnership with four local schools. This partnership culminates with an exhibit curated by, designed by, and featuring the collections of middle school students. The Kids as Curators project is funded by the MetLife Foundation under its Museum Connections Program. It is one of only 17 museums selected to receive a grant from among 195 applicants.

“The idea for the project came from two simple facts,” states Kelly Armor, the Museum's Education Director. “A museum is basically a place that presents interesting stuff in an educational context. And, middle school students are some of our most voracious collectors of stuff. Most of us know a twelve-year old whose bedroom is a stockpile of American cultural artifacts. If we can get them to think about their stuff from an intellectual perspective, we can spark a lifelong interest in learning and museum-going!”

Art, social studies, and language arts teachers from Diehl (City of Erie), Iroquois (Lawrence Park), Union City, and the Erie Day School been working intensively with 5th through 8th grade students on how to apply the museum process—selecting, evaluating, interpreting and presenting objects in exhibitions—to engage students in the basic concepts of their curriculum. With support from museum staff, each school has created a mini exhibit. After initial display at each school, all exhibits will be mounted at the Museum for the public to enjoy. The Kids as Curators exhibit features clocks, clothing, toys, tools, photography and other pre-teen relics.