The InsideART professional development program for teachers celebrated 15 years in January. A collaborative project between the USF Contemporary Art Museum and the USF College of Education, InsideART is an innovative arts-based learning and visual literacy program that integrates social studies with contemporary art in an examination and discussion of pressing societal issues. This secondary school program is provided free of charge to area teachers, and the curriculum is freely accessible to educators around the world.
The InsideART program was founded in 2010 by Bárbara Cruz and Noel Smith as a USF partnership between the Contemporary Art Museum and the College of Education. Now, in collaboration with the Hillsborough County Public Schools, professional development workshops and curricula are developed to coincide with Contemporary Art Museum exhibitions.
Danielle De Jesus, My Block, 2023 oil and felt moving blanket, 48x40 in.
The current exhibition, X Factor: Latinx Artists and the Reconquest of the Everyday, was the highlight of this spring's workshop for teachers. Facilitated by Cruz and Clarence V. Walker with support from Amy Allison and Randall West, the workshop allowed secondary social studies and art educators to come together to experience the artwork, learn new visual art pedagogy, and integrate with one of the exhibition's artists, Danielle De Jesus.
Participating educators have consistently praised InsideART's leadership in providing teachers with valuable materials and strategies to engage their learners. The teachers participating in this year's workshops impact thousands of students.
InsideART is funded with generous support from the USF Contemporary Art Museum Corporate Partnership Program members, the Lee and Victor Leavengood Endowment, and the Hillsborough County Public Schools. Historically, this program has received 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.
Visit the InsideART website to find all the curricula and information on the related USF Contemporary Art Museum exhibitions. The X Factor: Latinx Artists and the Reconquest of the Everyday exhibition is on view at USFCAM through March 8, 2025.