Art Around the Corner

Art Around the Corner is a special program that brings a cohort of Binford Middle School students to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond approximately four times throughout the school year for ENGAGE gallery tours and workshops.

Binford teachers identify a dozen and a half students from each grade to participate in the program. During each visit, the group enjoys a docent-led gallery tour, which includes an overview of the current exhibition, the viewing of a short video about the artist and a discussion about the artist’s materials and process. All students receive a copy of VisArts’ ENGAGE guide, which provides more background on the artist and numerous jumping-off points from which to explore the exhibition.

After the gallery tour, students participate in an art workshop that incorporates themes from the exhibition. For instance, when students toured printmaker and sculptor Anna Helper’s exhibition, “Push Me Pull You,” they spent their studio time making collagraphs—or experimental prints—using various textiles and found materials.

By the end of the school year, Art Around the Corner students have received 32 hours of SOL-based arts education in the True F. Luck Gallery and VisArts’ professionally equipped studios.