Education

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As a leader in the Helena arts community, the Holter is uniquely positioned to bring artists and community together to benefit student creative expression and help amplify voices through art. We aim especially to create a more equitable experience for low-income youth. The Holter provides spaces and programs for all to create community and engage in arts learning. The lesson plans below are from past exhibitions, tours, and community outreach provided by the museum through its educational programming and Holter Healing Arts initiative.

A hand and heart symbol denotes an activity that has been designed for or can be used in connection with Holter Healing Arts programming.

A paintbrush denotes an activity that has been designed in conjunction with Holter Exhibitions.

An apple symbol denotes an activity that has been designed for the Holter’s Artists in Schools Residency program or that has been taught as part of fieldtrips.

Squiggle Monsters and Oopsy Creatures

Draw-with-me in an activity that encourages artists of all ages to pick up your piece of paper and play with it. All you need is a blank piece of paper, a black marker, and a colorful material – such as watercolors, color pencils, crayons or oil pastels, or colorful markers!

Grades K-2: Joan Miro "Draw with Me"

A “Draw-with-Me” art activity for students in grades K – 2 that incorporates elements of abstract art in a style similar to that of the noted artist Joan Miro.

Holter Healing Arts: Emotion Mapping

An art activity to visualize, label, and map emotions using color, shape, line, and symbolism. Allows participants to thoughtfully reflect on a period of time, location, or a person.

Exhibit Connection: Celtic Knots

Connecting with the exhibit All is a Circle within Me, on display Fall 2024 @ the Holter Museum of Art, this art activity introduces graphite and charcoal lines to create a transfer.

Exhibit Connection: What Hangs in the Balance

Connecting with the exhibit What Hangs in the Balance, on display Winter 2025 @ the Holter Museum of Art, this art activity challenges with hand-sewing and structural engineering to create an original “foundational-less home” inspired by artist Katie Knight.

Squiggle Monsters and Oopsy Creatures

Draw-with-me in an activity that encourages artists of all ages to pick up your piece of paper and play with it. All you need is a blank piece of paper, a black marker, and a colorful material – such as watercolors, color pencils, crayons or oil pastels, or colorful markers!

Exhibit Connection: Quilt National

Connecting with the exhibit Quilt National, on display Winter 2023 @ the Holter Museum of Art, this art activity introduces quilt blocking using collage in the form of tradeable playing cards.

Grades 3-5: Joan Miro "Draw with Me"

A “Draw-with-Me” art activity for students in grades 3 – 5 that incorporates elements of abstract art in a style similar to that of the noted artist Joan Miro. 

Art Short: Picasso + Matisse

Join Artist-Educator Eric Dymit for a combined storytelling and art activity. Eric reads the book When Pigasso met Mootisse out loud before leading participants through an art activity combining the artists’ two unique styles of creating.

3rd Grade Fieldtrip: Mixed Media Stitching

Inspired by the exhibitions Quilt National and Broad Spectrum, on display Fall 2023 @ the Holter Museum of Art, this tactile art activity introduces textile art in a contemporary manner.

Exhibit Connection: Torn Paper

Connecting with the exhibit All is a Circle within Me, on display Fall 2024 @ the Holter Museum of Art, this art activity harnesses the act of tearing paper to problem solve and create an original piece of art.

3rd Grade Field Trip: Layered Environment

Inspired by the exhibition Nowhere to be but Here on display Winter 2025 @ the Holter Museum of Art, this art activity creates layers using color, texture, and defined shapes alongside ambiguous shapes to create a dream-like landscape.