EUGENE–The University of Oregon Museum of Art is the recipient of a $9,000 grant from the Edna L. Holmes Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation to support the museum’s Teen Docent Program.

"This grant, the first outside support the museum has sought and received for the Teen Docent Program, means that we can solidify its position in the museum’s wide array of educational offerings," says Lisa Abia-Smith, the museum’s director of education and outreach who guides the program. "These funds will be used to purchase training materials and art supplies, pay speakers’ fees and transportation expenses, and cover the cost of advertising and promoting the program to teens and teachers."

Each term, the Teen Docent Program trains 10—12 Lane County teens to lead students through museum tours and to visit local area classrooms and assisted-living centers. The result has been increased museum visitation and participation by young adults.

The program offers teen participants an experience that bolsters their skills in critical thinking, public speaking, research and visual thinking, Abia-Smith says. It also provides students and peers of teen docents with an accessible and non-threatening forum for learning about and discussing art.

In addition, the Teen Docent Program represents an opportunity for UO art museum staff to work more closely with middle school and high school teachers to improve curriculum that uses the museum’s resources and supports state standards. The UOMA program helps students meet Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) and Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM) requirements established by the Oregon Department of Education.

This term’s teen docents will give tours during the museum’s Holiday Open House from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, a free event that is open to the public.

The Oregon Community Foundation, established in 1973, manages charitable funds donated by individuals, families and businesses to enhance and support the quality of life in their communities. Today, the foundation’s endowment consists of more than 600 funds with combined assets of $300 million.

The foundation makes grants through an application process that involves local citizens in the review and evaluation of requests for funds. Application materials are available through the foundation’s Portland office. Individuals or businesses interested in establishing a fund may contact the Portland office at 621 S.W. Morrison, Suite 725, Portland, OR 97205 or call (503) 227-6846.

Accessible to people with disabilities, the UO Museum of Art is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Suggested admission is $3, except on Wednesdays when the MusEvenings! program offers free extended viewing hours from 5—8 p.m. Museum members, students, UO employees and children are admitted free.

The museum is supported in part by grants from the Oregon Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Horton Endowment, the UO Museum of Art Endowment, the Culp Endowment, the Autzen Endowment and the Krause Endowment.

The UO Museum of Art recently unveiled schematic plans for a $12 million renovation and expansion to nearly double the size of the existing building.

The need for this project stems from a period when public participation in the museum has reached an all-time high. Quarterly exhibitions, extended hours, family-targeted activities and educational programming (including the Teen Docent Program) all have contributed to a nearly 40 percent increase in annual visitations since last year.

For information, browse http://uoma.uoregon.edu or call (541) 346-3027.

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