Art Studio Professional Development Programs
The Art Studio is open during Museum hours to visitors of all ages. The Studio’s Professional Development programs support the Museum’s mission by encouraging making, appreciating, and thinking about art. Designed to engage participants in hands-on art making while fostering creative and critical thinking, these programs draw upon the Museum’s exhibitions, VTS, and the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. Art Studio programs can be adapted to three- or four-hour workshops with corresponding PDPs.

Three-hour program (3 PDPs) – $40 per person
Four-hour program (4 PDPs) – $50 per person

Minimum 10 / Maximum 20 participants

To arrange a Professional Development program contact the Education Department at programs@carlemuseum.org or 413.658.1106.

Bookmaking and Beyond
Offer your students multi-sensory opportunities to connect visual and verbal literacy. This workshop explores how bookmaking can be a vehicle for imagining creative and innovative ways to communicate ideas. Through work with professional and everyday materials participants are introduced to the origins of bookmaking and fundamental bookmaking vocabulary, techniques, and structural adaptations for a variety of ages.

Eric Carle Tissue Paper Workshop
Explore Carle's paper-painting techniques and how they can be adapted for home or the classroom while creating unique collage papers of one's own.

“I learned a lot of practical suggestions to bring back to the classroom. The instructor was very informative and enthusiastic! I enjoyed learning from her.”

Making Art with Young Children
Explore strategies and ideas designed to engage young children with materials. Inspired by the Visual Thinking Strategies and the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, this approach supports the exploration of materials and underscores the importance of adult observation and facilitation.

“The workshop helped remind me of what art with kids should be about: process, development, thinking.”

Possibilities in Print
Teachers, librarians and parents will explore the tools and techniques of printmaking methods and their connections to book production. In addition to hands-on work we will discuss the history of printmaking and practical ideas for using printmaking to connect verbal and visual literacy.

Space to Create
Support children’s development and creativity through the creation of a mini studio in your home or classroom. This workshop explores the components of a vibrant art space, offers tips and resources for creating one, and explores the underlying principles and philosophies that guide the Museum’s Art Studio program. Since no trip to the Art Studio would be complete without time to make art, we will also experiment with materials from our list of favorites.

“After this workshop I have a new (and improved) plan for the studio space in my Kindergarten classroom.”

“I have limited space but leave with many ideas on how to implement a studio in my inner city classroom.

Thinking with Found Materials
Explore ways to collect, store, and offer found and free materials to encourage creative expression and support learning in the pre-K through early elementary classroom and at home.