PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Museum of Art is offering area K-12 schools a chance to see its latest exhibition, and free busing to get there and back.
It's a class trip the museum hopes schools will find tough to pass up. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays between now and February, the museum is offering schools in the Philadelphia School District and area schools receiving federal Title I funding free guided tours of a special exhibition featuring contemporary Black artists. Under the initiative, the museum will reimburse schools for bus transportation.
The exhibition, "The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure," features paintings, drawings and sculptures from 28 artists including Amy Sherald, who painted the famous portrait of Michelle Obama.
"I think that's one thing that the students can expect to see, is people who reflect themselves — people who reflect their fashion interests, people who reflect contemporary culture," museum Director and CEO Sasha Suda told KYW Newsradio. "This particular project has demonstrated real relevance for the public school system and the tri-state area Title I schools — in part, because it's all about the representation of the Black figure."
Suda says the response to the museum's offer has been strong but there are still some slots available. Educators interested can sign up at schoolprograms@philamuseum.org, or by calling 215-684-7608.