Education fun? Well, it is at the museum. And you're invited to find out.

What exactly is museum education? This is a question I get asked often as the director of education at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, especially by those who are unfamiliar with the museum and all it offers to the community.

The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they hear the word “education” normally includes a formal class setting. Classes, of course, remain an important part of the museum’s programming, but there are so many other ways to learn — some of which are intended to pleasantly surprise a diverse crowd.

The process by which museum staff develops the exhibition schedule and programming reminds me a lot of how a school develops a curriculum. We determine what the big ideas are and ask ourselves, “How will visitors experience this? What will they take away from this experience?”

Just like designing a unit of study, goals and objectives are determined for exhibitions as we develop ways to guide visitors and help them connect with art. The exhibition space and all related programs are developed as we keep these objectives in our mind.

Director of Education Kellie Mele, right, leads a group of students from Emmanuel Christian School on a tour in January. Tours are part of the museum education experience.
Director of Education Kellie Mele, right, leads a group of students from Emmanuel Christian School on a tour in January. Tours are part of the museum education experience.

Sometimes, we have to get very creative to find different ways to get people to connect. Of course, at the museum we are fortunate enough to always be surrounded by original artwork and new visiting exhibitions constantly keeping ideas fresh.

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has a world-renowned collection of art (more than 6,500 pieces in the permanent collection) and an exciting list of upcoming exhibitions such as “Landscapes & Legends of Norway: William Singer and his Contemporaries” (May 27-Sept. 17); “Treasures of the State: Maryland’s Art Collection” (June 24-Oct. 22), “A Graphic Journey: Prints by Pablo Picasso” (Nov. 11, 2023-March 3, 2024).

The museum uses the permanent collection and these exhibitions as fuel to ignite the flame of inspiration for creating a variety of educational programming.

Education at the museum explores all the senses and takes a holistic approach to learning, and can wear a lot of hats. It means taking the big Ideas — objectives and goals — of an exhibition and creating programs that allow people to experience the art in many facets leading them back to those big ideas.

Learn even more about the museum:You see the finished product. But a lot of work goes into that exhibit

For every exhibition, we develop programs specifically for adults, children or the entire family. Education can take the form of a concert, a hands-on class, a lecture, a themed party or a community day.

Sometimes museum education is so much fun you forget it is guiding the learning process. Community Days at the museum have gained popularity. Often these days are intended for the entire family, while other programs might be more for adults or young children.

Community days engage the audience to explore the big ideas of an exhibition with cultural experiences like live music, art-making, gallery talks, live performances, demonstrations and sometimes snacks and drinks. Community days invite visitors in to see the exhibitions and to participate in all sorts of fun activities that help the entire family connect to art. (And they’re free!)

Museum education includes programs like this Painting a Symphony workshop in January that inspired by the exhibition “Joseph Holston: Color in Freedom, Journey Along the Underground Railroad.”
Museum education includes programs like this Painting a Symphony workshop in January that inspired by the exhibition “Joseph Holston: Color in Freedom, Journey Along the Underground Railroad.”

Join us to celebrate Cumberland Valley Artists Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 15. This free event will include performances by Jill Fulton and the Flying Matlocks, free beer samples from Thick-N-Thin Brewing Co. (for 21 and older), live artist demonstrations and artists selling original artwork, prints and crafts.

For our upcoming exhibition, “Landscapes, & Legends of Norway,” the entire community is invited to join us for a day of Viking activities, outdoors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Come and throw axes, drink mead and hear some live music. And the kids can enjoy some Viking crafts and games.

You can also mark your calendars for our Treasures of State Community Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. This family-friendly event celebrates the exhibition “Treasures of State” by celebrating all things historically Maryland, so get out the Old Bay and enjoy some live music and art.

Whether your family explored a free community day connected to an art exhibition, or you learned a new technique in a drawing class, or your child joined a free Saturday class, or you were awakened to new perspectives from a lecture, or you were moved to tap your feet to a concert, or you used art to help guide your meditation in the practice of yoga in the atrium, you’ve been participating in the museum’s growing education program — and you’ve experienced museum education.

Kellie Mele is director of education for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. The museum, at 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit wcmfa.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: WCMFA's education programs aren't just informative — they're fun, too