About
The Blanton welcomes students from all departments, colleges, and schools on UT’s campus — as well as Austin-area colleges and universities — to explore our galleries as an extension of their classroom learning. This semester we are offering a reduced number of in-person group visits. Capacity is limited, so we encourage university groups from far and wide to make use of collection-based digital resources.
Group Visits
The museum offers a diverse array of special exhibitions and permanent collection galleries, providing generative spaces for students to engage in close looking, critical thinking, and creative expression. Experiences with art can stimulate conversation and support a sense of community, offering opportunities to learn more about ourselves and others.
Blanton educators can introduce a temporary exhibition or collection area; explore interdisciplinary connections and respond to course goals; and help build skills in observation, interpretation, and communication. We have a particular interest in using art to support students in their development as young adults. Our collaborators often ask for a museum experience that introduces themes of belonging, self-care and wellbeing, community, and social justice.
Faculty may request a custom-designed gallery lesson facilitated by a museum educator by contacting siobhan.mccusker@blantonmuseum.org. Self-guided groups are also welcome. To manage capacity, all visits require a booking.
Digital Resources
Explore our free video-based resources in each of three areas: Thinking Through Art; Artists and Social Justice; and Community and Well-Being. These digital resources may be used for asynchronous learning, as prompts for classroom conversation, or as visual “warm-ups.”
Thinking Through Art
Thinking through Art: Each video in this series employs a work of art in the Blanton collection to invite analytical and creative responses, including a guided activity.
Download the Thinking Through Art: Quick Guide PDF to help plan your lesson.
Artists and Social Justice
Artists and Social Justice: This module explores artists in the Blanton collection who employ their work to raise issues of racism, inequity, and unjust systems.
Download the Artists and Social Justice: Facilitator’s Guide PDF to help plan your lesson. You can view Breakout Room Materials directly here. Explore supplemental works of art in this PDF here.
Community and Well-Being
These one-minute videos are intended to serve as a welcoming warm-up or as an energizer during a synchronous class session. Images, questions, and recommended activities introduce themes of self-care and will help build a sense of connection among students.
Other Ways to Explore
Explore this range of resources available to put art at the center of student learning.
Museum Guidebook and Activity Cards
Download our Museum Guidebook and Self-Guided Activity Cards for tips on how to explore the Blanton on your next visit.
Group Visits
The Blanton is pleased to offer a limited number of in-person group visits starting in fall 2021. Learn more on our Group Visits & Tours page.
Educators can also build a sense of community through assignments that ask students to visit the museum, explore the collection, and share responses.
Educator Zoom Presentations
Siobhán McCusker and Ray Williams are available to UT faculty for a limited number of online appearances via the Zoom platform. They are also available by phone for faculty to discuss class preparation featuring works of art in the Blanton collection.
Ray Williams, Director of Education and Academic Affairs
ray.williams@blantonmuseum.org
Siobhán McCusker, Museum Education, University Audiences siobhan.mccusker@blantonmuseum.org
Blanton Collections Imagery and Info
Blanton Collections Database: Educators can explore the Blanton Collections Database online HERE. Works can be integrated into lesson planning to support curriculum goals.
Blanton Art Primers: Educators and students alike can gain further inspiration from our Art Primers, which give in-depth information about art movements, materials, and more HERE.
DASe (Digital Archive Services) Database: UT faculty, staff, and students can download selected works from the DASe repository HERE. (Log-in required.)
Prints and Drawings Checklists: The Blanton’s curatorial and education teams have developed comprehensive checklists of works from our collection based on a variety of themes, including community building, war and conflict, environment, disease, human identity and development. For further information and/or for assistance selecting works from our prints and drawings collection, contact prints@blantonmuseum.org
General Education Assistance: For assistance with our broader collection, our members of our education team are available for consultation at education@blantonmuseum.org
Virtual Exhibition Tours
Step inside the galleries of the museum….virtually! Our 360-degree tours let you “walk” through past Blanton exhibitions and view the art and wall labels, hear curatorial commentary, and even watch videos about the exhibitions. Explore these multimedia tours online HERE.