Thanks to a Museums for America Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette has updated Art Smart: Indiana.  Originally, Art Smart: Indiana was developed as an outreach program by the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette in 1986. Its purpose, to teach Indiana history through artwork created by Indiana artists, was achieved through slide presentations by museum docents and a resource guide used by 4th grade classroom teachers throughout the state. 

With funding from the IMLS, the Art Museum, in collaboration with The Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the Purdue University Department of Curriculum and Instruction, updated ArtSmart: Indiana to an Internet web-based program with better quality images and content.  The curriculum was expanded to include more contemporary artists and include women and minority artists. Designed to meet the State Academic Standards for 4th grade social studies curricula, the program is formatted in a way that is student friendly, and at the same time cross referenced for easy lesson planning.  The result is a more accessible program for Indiana teachers and students alike that will appeal to a broad statewide audience. 

Credit where credit is due: The original program was written by Susan Chavers in 1986, the web-based internet program was developed by Professor Scott Schaffer, Purdue University, Department of Educational Technology along with Dr. Jeff Patchen, Ela Kramer, Leslie Power and Melissa Trumphy of The Children's Museum in Indianapolis.  Kathy Trout has written the art educational units according to the state academic standards. The Art Musem Art Smart team includes Susan Chavers, Meg Ellis, Trudi Meyers, Cheryl Rosenthal, Kendall Smith, and Sharon Theobald. Laurette Mc McCarthy, Ph.D. and Michael Atwell were the curators for the Art Smart Exhibition in the museum fall 2008. The Art smart website will soon have its official rollout when the final version is completed. An early version can be accessed now at artsmartindiana.org

The Art Smart Institute for all teachers in the State of Indiana was held July 8, 9 and 10 of 2008 at The Children's Museum in Indianapolis and The Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. Teachers who participatedl received educational credits from the State Department of Education. Additional one day workshops have been held with more to come. Teachers who attended the workshops and Institute are excited by the versitility and depth of educational opportunites presented by the program. An ArtSmart Interactive Learning Station is in the works at the Art Museum so that visitors to the museum can access the program.

The Art SmartAdvocates, a friends group, is also being launched for members of the Art Museum and the Greater Lafayette and Indiana community to help provide funds needs to maintain the web site and continue the needed support for Art Smart. Donations can be made to the Art Smart Art Line by contacting the Museum Director, Kendall Smith at ksmith@glmart.org or Glenda (glenda@glmart.org).