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Teachers

Did you know Illinois elementary and high school teachers receive free admission to the MCA? Simply present a valid teacher ID (or a photograph of your valid teacher ID) at the Admissions desk for free admission to the museum.

Register for the 2023–24 Learning Series

For Teachers

Teacher Institute

Registration-based.

The Teacher Institute is the MCA’s professional development program for classroom educators. Designed to help you investigate, create, incubate, and implement innovative, contemporary curricula, this free, yearlong program includes year-round programming like the Learning Series and the Teacher Residency.

Learning Series

Registration-based. Free and open to all.

Throughout the year, the MCA hosts high-quality professional development programming. Open to teachers of all disciplines, these events are skills-based trainings on contemporary art integration and educator-specific programs.

Programs are designed in connection with the cultural assets of the MCA (exhibitions, exhibiting artists, public programs, and performances). To hear about upcoming Learning Series programs, sign up for our educator email list.

Register for the 2023–24 Series

Multiple Visit Program

We are not supporting school field trips or the Multiple Visit Program at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience. We look forward to welcoming student groups again in 2023!

You can still take advantage of free admission for student groups. To reserve tickets, please email [email protected].

Teacher Advisory Committee

A community of classroom teachers who meet quarterly to advise the MCA Learning team on school and teacher programs and matters of interest to the larger school community.

Current members of the Teacher Advisory Committee (TAC):

  • Andrew Breen
  • Bridget Doherty-Trebing
  • Lindsay Johnson
  • Rhavin Haynes
  • Marcia La Porte
  • Marina Lopez
  • Kristal Pacheco
  • Lisa Wax
  • Zachary Wisser

For more details about the TAC, email Evelyn Sanford-Nicolson, Polk Bros. Associate Director of Learning.

Teacher Residency

This 10-month partnership with 15 Chicago-area K–12 classroom teachers of various disciplines includes monthly collaboration sessions, MCA class field trips, and curriculum development.

Working closely with MCA staff and other mentors, teachers develop new curricula focused on contemporary arts integration for classroom and museum learning, earning up to $750 in the process.

2024–23 Teachers-in-Residence

  • Aespyne Brooks — Nobel Academy
  • Annie Zirin — Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
  • Colleen Kilcoyne — Marquette Elementary
  • David Hossler — Simeon Career Academy
  • Carrie Byington-Oei — Wolcott College Prep
  • Chelsea Bashore Acero — Esmerelda Santiago Elementary
  • Laura Lynn Hsieh — North Shore Country Day School
  • Safir Kaylan — Gems World Academy
  • Hyunju Park — DePaul College Prep
  • Justin Goh — Woodlands Academy
  • Isabella Mellado — School of the Art institute of Chicago
  • Chasitie Neal — Morton Elementary
  • Jessica Londay — STEM Magnet Academy
  • Danyelle Jones — STEM Magnet Academy
  • Shlinda Greer — Ralph Ellison High School

Teacher Resources and Guides

We currently create robust teacher guides in conjunction with our Tour Video (TV) series. Those can be found on our Learning Resources page.

View All Educator Events

Contact & Registration

Contact

The MCA creates immersive professional development programs and invites teachers to use the museum as their studio, laboratory, library, and classroom.

In need of fresh ideas for your curriculum? Need to know what’s happening in art, teaching, and learning right now?

  • MCA Educator Salons tackle timely issues through open exchange among peers, colleagues, and speakers.

Participants receive ISBE credit.

Vouchers for free parking in the MCA garage are provided pending availability.

Email Ahmad Bracey, Manager of Learning: School and Youth Communities, or sign up for our educator email list to be the first to hear about opportunities at the MCA for teachers and students.

Teacher Mailing List Sign-Up

Complete this form to keep in touch and hear about the MCA's programs for educators.

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Funding

Major support for Learning Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art is provided by Julie and Larry Bernstein and Anonymous.

Additional generous support is provided by the Lois and Steve Eisen and The Eisen Family Foundation, Friends of Edwin A. Bergman Fund, the Hulda B. & Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation, Diane Kahan, The Marshall Frankel Foundation, D. Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies, Carol Prins and John Hart/The Jessica Fund, and The William Randolph Hearst Foundations.