Danielle de Jesus "My Block" (2023) oil and felt moving blanket. Courtesy of the Artist.
For fifteen years, InsideART has been redefining how educators approach teaching, blending contemporary art with social studies to spark deeper conversations in the classroom. A collaborative initiative between the USF Contemporary Art Museum (USFCAM) and the USF College of Education, the program has become a go-to resource for secondary educators, offering innovative professional development and freely accessible curricula designed to tackle real-world issues through visual literacy.
What began in 2010 as a partnership spearheaded by Dr. Bárbara Cruz and Noel Smith has since evolved into a dynamic collaboration with Hillsborough County Public Schools, providing teachers with hands-on experiences that integrate contemporary exhibitions into their lesson plans. Each year, educators gather at USFCAM for workshops that move beyond traditional teaching methods, encouraging interactive discussions and creative applications of contemporary art in the classroom.
This year’s workshop centered on X Factor: Latinx Artists and the Reconquest of the Everyday, an exhibition that reclaims everyday experiences through the lens of Latinx artists. Teachers explored the exhibition with guidance from Dr. Cruz and Dr. Clarence V. Walker, alongside museum educators Amy Allison and Randall West. The highlight was a session with featured artist Danielle De Jesus, whose piece My Block (2023) provided a launching point for discussions on cultural identity, community, and representation. The experience allowed educators to consider new ways to engage students in conversations about history, belonging, and personal narratives, demonstrating that contemporary art can be a powerful tool for critical thinking.
Danielle de Jesus on Microsoft Teams
The impact of InsideART extends far beyond the museum walls. Over the years, participating educators have brought these lessons into thousands of classrooms, transforming how students engage with contemporary art and the world around them. Their enthusiasm speaks volumes, with teachers consistently praising the program’s ability to provide practical strategies and meaningful connections between art, history, and civic engagement.
This milestone year is also a testament to the program’s strong foundation of support. Backed by USFCAM’s Corporate Partnership Program, the Lee and Victor Leavengood Endowment, and Hillsborough County Public Schools, InsideART has flourished thanks to past funding from the Florida Department of State Division of Arts and Culture, the USF Foundation Arts for Community Engagement fund, the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County.
As InsideART continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to equip educators with the tools they need to inspire the next generation of critical thinkers. With its latest curriculum now available online and X Factor: Latinx Artists and the Reconquest of the Everyday on view at USFCAM through March 8, 2025, the program’s reach is only expanding, demonstrating that when art and education intersect, the possibilities are endless.
For more information and access to InsideART’s curriculum, visit cam.usf.edu/insideart.