The Brooklyn Museum is proud to support adult language and literacy learners and instructors. We offer partnerships and class visits for adult basic education (ABE), high school equivalency (HSE), and English-language learning classes, as well as professional development workshops for adult language and literacy professionals.
Looking for programs in languages other than English? We regularly host tours in Spanish and Russian. See what’s coming up.
Guided visits and partnerships
We offer both in-person and virtual experiences for your adult language and literacy students.
Supporting your learners
Discover connections across disciplines and deepen student engagement with your curricula through object-based teaching. Close reading and analysis of artworks promote skills such as deductive reasoning, text-to-text comparisons, and proficiency with persuasive, descriptive, and metaphorical language. We emphasize description, discussion, and opportunities to read, write, and reflect.
Single-class visits
Single-class visits can be tailored to your topics and goals, providing a forum for students to explore a new idea, apply concepts that they have already started to master, or develop skills through facilitated dialogue.
Partnerships
Partnerships that incorporate Museum resources throughout the semester allow for in-depth and sustained engagement that can support longer-term goals. Institutions we’ve partnered with include the Brooklyn Public Library, CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP), The International Center of Catholic Charities Community Services, Literacy Assistance Center, New York City DOE Adult Education Schools, NYU Langone, and YWCA.
Themes for visits
We tailor lessons to the needs and interests of your class. Let us know what you’re studying or which themes are important to you and your students, and we’ll create a guided experience that engages those ideas. Below are our most frequently requested topics.
New York History through Art
How can we learn about the history of New York and its peoples through artworks? Explore communities and social movements that have created and continue to shape our city.
Art and Activism
Can art change the world? What role does art play in social change? Discover how artworks have been a tool for building a more just society, and gain insight into movements for racial equity, feminism, environmental justice, and more.
Community and Identity
How does art reflect communities and their identities? How does art shape a community’s sense of self? Examine artworks that illuminate identity, demonstrate community values, and connect people across cultures.
Art and the Environment
What is the relationship between art and the natural world? The environment often influences artists’ work, from portraiture to architecture. Discover the many relationships artistic communities have with the natural world; learn about issues of place, industrialization, and globalization; and consider the role of the environment in your own life.
Scheduling and cost
Visits to the Museum can be accommodated only during Museum hours, but virtual sessions and off-site visits can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.
All Museum visits are free for adult language and literacy classes unless otherwise noted.
Lesson plans
Check out lesson plans that bring art into the adult language and literacy classroom! Packets include information and lessons about artists and artworks, plus writing, research, and art-making exercises.
If you use a lesson plan, we’d love your feedback! Contact adult.learning@brooklynmuseum.org.
Let’s get started
To arrange a visit with your ABE, HSE, or ESOL class, or to start planning a partnership, contact adult.learning@brooklynmuseum.org. Note the type of class you teach, the number of students you hope to bring, and possible dates/times.
Questions? Contact adult.learning@brooklynmuseum.org.