Community Programs
Enriching lives in the community.
HomeCommunity Programs

Community Programs offers free interactive art-making programs and tours for qualifying community groups and organizations. Our community engagement work activates the museum’s collection, resources, and staff to build lasting relationships and engage beyond the museum walls. We collaborate with our community partners to provide opportunities for people to explore the value of creativity and collaboration in their own lives and spaces.

Interested in becoming a Community Partner? Please fill out this form to see if your organization qualifies. 

Request Form

 

 

English Language Learners

New USA Citizens!

The Nelson-Atkins partners with agencies and educational institutions to work with some of the country’s newest residents. With art at the foundation, our programs enhance language skills, develop cultural and social investment, prepare people for the citizenship test and support workforce development.

Citizenship Preparation Classes
Citizenship preparation classes are offered to group bookings. For classes to proceed a minimum of five students are required. The classes are 1 hour in duration and focus on the USCIS 100 questions using the art collection. There are four lessons covered at the museum:

  • Geography and American Indian Culture
  • The War of Independence
  • The Civil War
  • Voting Rights and the Civil Rights Movement
  • Students are provided with take home resources.

Download our US NATURALIZATION TEST STUDY GUIDE.

Thank you to our partner Compass Minerals for supporting this program.

Art Workshops and Tours
Art workshops are usually 90-minutes in duration. Request a topic or theme as sessions are customized to meet the needs of English language learners. Alternatively, you can request one of the following workshops:

  • Explore American history and civics through the collection and art making
  • Examine identity and personal stories through portraiture
  • Travel around the world and review concepts of place and time through the collection

Email communityprograms@nelson-atkins.org for more information.

Programs for Older Adults

Customized programs that include art making, tours or art discussions are available for organizations that work with older adults. Experiences can occur at agencies, at the museum or a combination of both.

Email communityprograms@nelson-atkins.org for more information.

Senior adult with art project

After-School and Summer Programs

Children learning about color

The Nelson-Atkins joins area agencies to provide pre-k, after-school and summer art workshops for children with disabilities or who are facing economic barriers.

Workshops can occur at partnering agencies, at the museum or combination of both. Programs feature interactive discussions of the museum collection and hands-on artmaking.

Email communityprograms@nelson-atkins.org for more information.

Community Partnerships are sustained, extended relationships that bring educators and artists into an organization for extended programming and promote the Museum as an essential resource.

Community Partners

  • Ability KC
  • The Autism Society of the Heartland
  • Catholic Charities
  • Children’s Mercy Hospital
  • Don Bosco Senior Center
  • The Farmer’s House
  • Hillcrest Community Center
  • Imagine That!
  • Jewish Vocational Services
  • The Landon Center on Aging
  • LINC
  • The Whole Person

Nelson-Atkins Front Lawn