 The
goal of education at the Lowe Art Museum is to facilitate exploration
of the visual arts. All educational opportunities, whether led by
museum staff, museum volunteers or guests strive to challenge the
visitor to engage (individually or as a group) in a learning process
utilizing and encouraging critical inquiry, object-based education
and visual literacy. Overall education at the Lowe Art Museum intends
to provide visitors with the necessary skills to explore the visual
arts inside and outside of the museum, to instill a sense of excitement
about art among our visitors, and to build lasting relationships
between our community and our collections.
The Lowe Art Museum Docent Guild supports the mission of the education
department by providing a corps of trained volunteer guides (docents)
to lead group tours for museum visitors. Docents present tours using
inquiry-based strategies. An inquiry-based approach uses questions
to help people learn. Inquiry-based learning and teaching allows
learners to participate in the education experience, opportunity
for rich exploration, as well as, multiple perspectives and ideas.
The Lowe Art Museum often uses Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
[ www.vue.org ],
a method of inquiry, for K-12 and college tours due to its student-centered
approach, its emphasis on constructivist theory, skill building
and aesthetic development.
 With
over 17,500 objects in our permanent collection, the Lowe’s
exhibitions represent 5,000 years of art history throughout the
world. Our collections enhance and support a multidisciplinary curriculum
from pre-K through college. In addition the Lowe Art Museum installs
several temporary and traveling exhibitions
each year.
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