Kidspace at MASS MoCA, a contemporary art gallery, studio and educational program, promotes the understanding and teaching of art through experiential learning opportunities designed for elementary and middle school students, teachers, and families.
Program Description
A collaborative project of three major museums in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts—The Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute (The Clark), Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA)—Kidspace and its partners organize programs that investigate a wide range of artistic themes, contemporary art-making methods and materials with the purpose of increasing participants’ understanding of contemporary art and strengthening their visual literacy skills. Kidspace organizes innovative exhibitions in partnership with six local elementary schools. The school outreach program reaches every Pre-K–7th-grader and all elementary school teachers through artist residencies, multiple gallery visits, interdisciplinary curriculum materials, and teacher workshops. The program also includes after-school art classes for teens; numerous family programs; public hours; and website resources.
In March 2009, Kidspace moved into a 3,200 square foot gallery on the second floor of MASS MoCA. Kidspace first opened its doors in January 2000, and since then, Kidspace has mounted 21 major thematic exhibitions. Since the move to the larger gallery, attendance has doubled and now more than 25,000 students and general public visitors participate annually.
Staff
Laura Thompson, Ed.D.
Director of Exhibitions and Education
For eight years, Laura has been Kidspace’s director of exhibitions and education and has organized 16 exhibition and curricula projects. Laura oversees all aspects of the Kidspace project from grants to exhibition and program development, from staffing to budgets. She has over 20 years experience in the museum field, is a certified educator, and holds a doctorate in arts education from Columbia University Teachers College. Laura is also a visiting assistant professor of art history at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and when time allows she enjoys painting large-scale oil paintings. Laura is a mother of two sons and lives with her husband in Saratoga, New York.
Shannon Toye
Education Coordinator
Shannon began her tenure with Kidspace in 2004 when she interned as an education major at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In 2007, she became a full-time member of the Kidspace staff, teaching in the gallery and schools, as well as coordinating many program aspects. Shannon is a certified educator and has 15 years’ experience working with children in educational settings. She also completed children’s yoga and creative movement certification at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Shannon is a mother of three and lives in her hometown of North Adams.