Sources: Kathrine Schlageck, 785-532-7718, klwalk@k-state.edu;
and Andrew North, 785-532-7718, anorth@k-state.edu
Web site: http://beach.k-state.edu/
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

K-STATE'S BEACH MUSEUM TO HAVE WORKSHOP APRIL 7 ON 'MOVING' MUSEUM EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN

MANHATTAN -- An expert on using physical movement to engage children in the art experience is having a workshop at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art in April.

Shelley K. Weisberg will present "Movement with Objects and Art" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at the museum. The workshop is part of the museum's Looking at Art with Children series and is funded by an Arts-in-Education grant from the Kansas Arts Commission.

Weisberg is the creator of Museum Movement Techniques, a method where physical movement is used to help museum visitors better understand art objects.

Workshop participants will interact with the museum's collection and learn how to interpret the objects through movement. They also will discuss how to guide children through these activities. The workshop is ideal for early childhood care providers, teachers, Picture Person program participants and home-school parents.

"Most children are kinesthetic learners," said Kathrine Schlageck, the Beach Museum's senior educator. "This workshop will give us new ways to engage our younger audience and broaden the learning experiences provided on our tours. We are very excited about integrating new interpretive techniques in our galleries."

Weisberg and Schlageck also will work together to develop a new tour of the museum's permanent collection using this method. An open house is planned in June to launch the new tour.

There is no fee for the workshop, but pre-registration is requested. Reservations may be made by calling 785-532-7718 or by e-mail to klwalk@k-state.edu.

For more information, contact the Beach Museum of Art at 785-532-7718 or drop by the museum on the southeast corner of the K-State campus at 14th Street and Anderson Avenue. Free visitor parking is available next to the building. Normal museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The museum is closed Mondays.