Education Programs K-12

Teachers and students throughout the DC-region look to the Hirshhorn to add a vital element to classroom education. At open house events, hosted in collaboration with other Smithsonian arts institutions, teachers are given information about upcoming exhibitions as well as refreshments.

Teacher Workshops
Three annual workshops focus on special exhibitions and the permanent collection, serving teachers from schools throughout the DC-area.

Class Visits  
Hirshhorn educators help teachers plan visits that meet specific curriculum needs, or teachers can take advantage of eleven different themed gallery tours to explore the collection and special exhibitions with their students. Approximately 5,800 students annually participate in scheduled tours.

Educational Packets
Classroom teaching guides are available for loan to teachers and schools upon request. Packets may focus on special exhibitions, works in the collection, or specific themes. They typically include artist information, classroom activities, and digital images of artworks. Some of the materials are also available on the website.