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Education

Teachers

Welcome teachers! We are proud partners of classroom teachers of all disciplines who want to infuse contemporary art into their teaching while making their classrooms more inclusive, collaborative, and learner-centered. We value teachers as learners by providing personalized coaching and by creating shared time to build community among professionals. We hope you’ll join us!

Join our teacher mail list to receive information about upcoming programs for teachers and students.

Contemporary Art Start

Join the fun! Contemporary Art Start (CAS) is MOCA’s sustained, award-winning classroom partnership program for 3rd-12th grade that connects students, classroom teachers, and other educators to the transformative power of art through democratic, inclusive discussions about the art of our time. Learn how to use Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) like a pro by getting plenty of practice and supportive coaching. CAS is now available to both classroom teachers (see option A and B below) and to administrators and educators at museums and non-profits who don’t have students (option B). 

  • Option A–Full program: Professional development (one salary point for first year participants), two museum visits (one free bus or virtual visits), classroom curriculum, free family passes and programs, and a MOCA membership

  • Option B–PD only: Join us for just the professional development portion of CAS!

  • Option A and B–choose between In-person or online

Cost: $25 either option, online or in-person; applications are due May 24. 


3rd-5th grade info and registration form
Secondary info and registration form

Please note that professional development for each track starts in June (for returning CAS teachers) and July (for first-year CAS teachers); please see each application above for specific start dates.

Want to learn more?

Schedule a 20- or 40-minute faculty-wide professional development workshop at your school to learn more about how MOCA can support your students, teachers, and families. Email education@moca.org to schedule one today!

Professional Development Workshops at Schools

Photo by Sean MacGillivray, courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

We offer free 20- or 40-minute staff PD workshops for 3rd-12th grade faculty groups, either in-person (for schools in LA County) or online. We can customize a workshop for you that includes an introduction to MOCA, our yearlong classroom partnership program, Contemporary Art Start, and an interactive demonstration of our discussion-based teaching method that emphasizes communication, critical thinking, visual literacy, and community-building. See you at school!

To schedule a PD workshop, please email education@moca.org.

Tours for 3rd-12th Grade

Staff-Guided Tours
Photo by Sean MacGillivray

MOCA offers guided tours to 3rd-12th grade students primarily through our multi-visit partnership program, Contemporary Art Start (see details above). Occasionally we can accommodate single-visit tours for classes outside of CAS; please email us for more information.

INFO: 213/621-1745 or education@moca.org

Self-Guided Tours

Photo by Sean MacGillivray

Enjoy a visit on your own! For groups in 3rd grade and up. All accredited academic institutions are free; all reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance.

Book a Tour

INFO: 213/621-1745 or education@moca.org

Download this Writing and Sketching in Response to Art guide in advance: seven fun activities to get your creative juices flowing when you’re in the MOCA galleries! Suitable for visitors of all ages.

Education at MOCA courtesy of Terri and Michael Smooke. Support provided by The Hearst Foundations. Contemporary Art Start at MOCA, including The Rebecca Smith Summer Institute endowed by Lois Rosen and The Len Hill Classroom Coaching Program made possible by The Leonard Hill Charitable Trust, is supported by Susan and David Gersh, The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, and the MOCA Projects Council. Additional support by City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, and May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc.