March 31, 2025
CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS
FREE EVENING FOR EDUCATORS
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Thursday, May 1, the Clark Art Institute hosts a free creative professional development event for educators from across the region. Participants will explore ways to strengthen their students' social and emotional learning through the arts. Evening for Educators is recommended for Pre-K through Grade 12 educators, including school counselors and administrators. Educators can earn professional development points through participation. The program runs from 5 pm to 8:15 pm.
The evening commences with a keynote address by Käthe Swaback, the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s program officer for creative youth development and health. Swaback is a visual artist, art therapist, and arts administrator with an M.A. in expressive therapy.
A series of workshops, developed by local educators who are members of the Clark’s new Teacher Advisory Group, provide educators with inspiring methods to enliven social and emotional learning in the classroom. Participants can choose to attend two of the five workshops, which range from gallery engagement activities to hands-on art making and align with state standards.
The event begins in the Clark’s auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.
Program Details:
5 pm: Arrival and Check-in
5:15 pm: Keynote Address
Presented by Käthe Swaback, Massachusetts Cultural Council
5:55 pm: Complimentary Buffet Dinner
6:45- 8:15 pm: Workshop Series
Select two:
· Artful Yoga
· Engaging with Art to Build Self-Management and Relationship Skills
· Exploring Empathy through Sculpture
· Handmade Books as Self Portraits
· Art-Inspired Letter writing, Storytelling, and Empathy
Advance registration is strongly encouraged. To register, visit clarkart.edu/events or email Dana Schildkraut, School Specialist, at [email protected]. The program, all supplies, and dinner are provided free of charge to all professional educators.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday from September through June and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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