Let’s Look at Art (LLAA), the volunteer school outreach program of the San José Museum of Art (SJMA), has reached a significant milestone of reaching their one millionth student mark. This milestone follows the program’s 50th anniversary in 2022. LLAA serves tens of thousands of K–12 students across Santa Clara County each year, with a close-knit, dedicated team of about 50 volunteer docents.

SJMA Oshman Executive Director S. Sayre Batton noted that “Let’s Look at Art’s dedication and commitment make SJMA the largest provider of K–12 visual art education in Santa Clara County. They truly help make SJMA a borderless museum—extending the Museum’s educational outreach to new heights. We are so grateful to them for their unwavering service and inspiration.”

LLAA’s presentations are tailored to grade level and designed to support California’s Common Core Standards. LLAA docents receive thorough training in the use of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), an inquiry-based method that encourages close looking and interactive discussions. Up to fifth grade, docents bring large, printed reproductions of artworks into the classroom—including works from SJMA’s collection—and focus their presentations both on the formal elements of art and on imaginative readings of the prints. Presentations for grades 6–12 are more closely tied to school curricula. At these levels, the digital presentations of LLAA’s Art in the Dark program allow for the greater depth and flexibility needed to bring the artworks into the contexts of history, science, social studies, and language arts. All art selections are carefully researched and chosen to represent the cultural diversity of the Bay Area. Every student receives a free family pass to visit the Museum, thus broadening the program’s reach beyond the classroom and reinforcing its impact by engaging whole families.

Classroom discussions led by LLAA go beyond art. LLAA docents incorporate subjects such as history, math, science, and other fields into their presentations. By viewing art in a multidisciplinary way, art can take on a fresh new relevance for students and help foster critical thinking skills.
“Study after study has shown the importance of exposing children to the visual arts. Regrettably, many schools lack the staff, resources, or room in the curriculum for arts education. LLAA exists to help fill that gap. This milestone gives a sense of scale to the immeasurable effect it has had on the lives of students in Santa Clara County,” Tony Misch, current president of LLAA, explained.

During the pandemic LLAA pivoted to offering remote presentations and continued to reach tens of thousands of students. While LLAA has now returned to in-person teaching, the skills gained during the pandemic allow the organization to continue to offer the option of remote visits.
“Any K–12 schoolteacher in the county can request a free visit—in person or virtual—from a LLAA docent.  Public, private, homeschool, you name it, we'll come to you,” said Susan Curtin, a docent and former LLAA president. For more information about LLAA, go to sjmusart.org/lets-look-at-art.

SUPPORT

Operations and programs at the San José Museum of Art are made possible by generous support from SJMA’s Board of Trustees, a Cultural Affairs Grant from the City of San José, the Lipman Family Foundation, the Adobe Foundation, the Richard A. Karp Charitable Foundation, Sally Lucas, Yvonne and Mike Nevens, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Yellow Chair Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Brook Hartzell and Tad Freese, the SJMA Director's Council and Council of 100, the San José Museum of Art Endowment Fund established by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Let’s Look at Art is supported by the Let’s Look at Art docent membership, and a generous gift from Sally S. Lucas.

The education fund at SJMA is generously supported by the California Arts Council, the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation, the Koret Foundation, SVCreates in partnership with the County of Santa Clara, Lucia Cha, Priscilla Chou, KPMG LLP, the City of San José, the Farrington Historical Foundation, Daphne and Stuart Wells, and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART

The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and the Silicon Valley—from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond.

SJMA is located at 110 South Market Street in downtown San José, California. The Museum is open Thursday 4–9pm; Friday 11am–9pm; and Saturday–Sunday 11am–6pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and free to members, college students, youth and children ages 17 and under, and school teachers (with valid ID). Admission is free from 6–9pm on the first Friday of every month. Starting July 1, admission for adults will be $15 and seniors will be $12. Admission is free from 6–9pm the first Friday of every month. For up-to-date information, call 408.271.6840 or visit SanJoseMuseumofArt.org. 

Visitors 2 years and older are encouraged to wear a mask. SJMA will carefully and continually monitor the efficacy of these guidelines in real time and make further adjustments as needed.