Museums10 Gears up for Fall Education Outreach

Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College. A young visitor looks up at the Ice Age mammals skeletons. (Photo credit: Sam Masinter, courtesy The Trustees of Amherst College)

This fall as area colleges and schools get ready to welcome students and families, Museums10, a collaboration of 10 college-affiliated museums in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, announces fall activities to interest visitors of all ages.

“Museums10 is an excellent resource and destination for area educators and students to explore the worlds of art, history, literature and science,” said Alexandra Kennedy, Executive Director of The Eric Carle Museum, who also chairs Museums10’s executive committee. “Six out of the ten museums are free and all welcome field trips. The variety of hands on workshops, classes, programming, exhibitions, and teacher training offered by Museums10 members is unparalleled.”

Highlights for the fall are:

• GEOLOGY: Discover the Connecticut River Valley geological phenomena and the world’s largest collection of dinosaur tracks at the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-4 pm, also Thursdays 6 pm-10 pm. Tel: 413-542-2165. Free Admission.

• LANGUAGE & CULINARY ARTS: Participate in the annual Poetry Marathon and Baking Contest, September 24th at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA. Hours: Wednesdays-Sundays,11am-4 pm. Tel: 413-542-8161.

• PICTURE BOOK ART: See the original art from Eric Carle’s new book: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (Sept. 20, 2011 – Mar 20, 2012) and Growing Every Which Way But Up: The Children’s Book Art of Jules Feiffer (Oct 25, 2011 – Jan 22, 2012) at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 am- 4 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 12-5 pm. Tel: 413-658-1100.

• CONTEMPORARY ART: View contemporary art at the Hampshire College Art Gallery in Amherst, MA. Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30am-4:30pm. Closed in August. Tel: 413-559-5544. Free Admission.

• HISTORY: Attend Open Hearth Cooking or Made-by Hand: Trades of the Past demonstrations or join the Harvest Baskets family activities at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tel: 413-775-7214.

• HISTORY: See Disunion! The American Civil War 150 Years Later, a special installation of 15 paintings, sculptures, photographs and prints marking the sesquicentennial of our country’s bloodiest conflict. Until December 31 at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm. Tel: 413-542-2335. Free Admission.

• SOCIAL STUDIES: Explore Life in the Ancient World: Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Special workshops for school groups offer direct experience with artifacts and original works of art and the opportunity to learn about history, world cultures, art, and archaeology. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum in South Hadley, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11am-5 pm, Saturday-Sunday 1-5 pm. Tel: 413-538-2245. Free Admission.

• LANGUAGE ARTS: Visit the new family exhibit You Know More Yiddish Than You Think opening September 18 at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am- 4pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm. Tel: 413-256-4900.

• WORLD ART: Discover Art from at least four continents on display this fall: Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Join the Free World Art! Family Day, November 5, with hands-on art projects for kids inspired by works from each of these continents. The Smith College Museum of Art in Northamtpon, MA. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm. Tel: 413-585-2760.

• ART: Watch the video exhibition by renowned Korean artist Kimsooja, Sept 21 through Dec 11, 2011. Kimsooja’s work combines performance, video, and installation, addressing issues of the displaced self. University Museum of Contemporary Art in Amherst, MA. Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11:00am-4:30pm, Saturday-Sunday: 2pm-5pm. Closed in August. Tel: 413-545-3670. Free Admission.

Find out more at www.museums10.org