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Education

Teachers

Contemporary Art Start

Join the fun! Contemporary Art Start (CAS) is MOCA’s yearlong, award-winning partnership program for 3rd-12th grade classrooms, connecting students and educators to the power of art through inclusive discussions about the art of our time. Through up to 7 practice teaching and follow-up coaching opportunities, learn how to use Visual Thinking Strategies, a proven inquiry-based teaching practice that can be applied across your curriculum. CAS is now available to both classroom teachers (see Options A and B below) and to non-classroom-based administrators and educators at schools, museums, and non-profits (Option B). 

  • Option A–Full program: Professional development (one LAUSD salary point for first year participants), two museum visits (one free bus), 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 or B–choose between In-person or online.


Cost: $25 either option, online or in-person. Registration forms will be available in January, 2025 for the 2025-26 school year. Please join our mailing list to receive them when they come out!

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. See you at school!

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.

Lead support is provided by The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, The Leonard Hill Charitable Trust, The Rebecca Smith Summer Institute endowed by Lois Rosen, and the Specified General Fund for the Museum Grant Program under the California Cultural and Historical Endowment.

Major support is provided by the The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Generous support is provided by The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund.

Additional support is provided by Capital Group, The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, and the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc.