Invest in the art of our time. Make a tax-deductible gift today. Image: Fazilat Soukhakian, Queer in Utah, Lexi & Max, 2019-2022, Archival inkjet print

Community

Tours

UMOCA offers tours for K-12 students that provide an introduction to contemporary art and dynamic conversations in the gallery.

Hands-on art-making activities can be added to a tour upon request for K-8 students. Tours are led by a professional educator and designed to connect with a broad array of core curricular subjects. If you’re interested in emphasizing a particular area of curriculum, please specify when booking.

Tours are free but must be scheduled two weeks in advance and are limited to a maximum of 60 people. We require that you provide one adult chaperone for every 10 students.

For further information, contact Golda Dopp Ovalles at 801-328-4201 x122 or golda.ovalles@utahmoca.org

Sense/Ability tours

Created in collaboration with Easy to Love, Hard to Raise—a parents’ support group for children with special needs—Sense/Ability aims to foster an accepting and understanding museum environment, in which sensory-sensitive children and their families will feel comfortable and included.

Each tour will be led by a trained art educator and will take place before the museum is open to the public. Educators will tailor each tour and activity to the mood of the group to create a comfortable and safe space. Sounds will be reduced, and the museum will designate a “cool down” area in case a child feels overwhelmed.

The free tours embrace a youthful perspective on the exhibitions currently in UMOCA’s six gallery spaces. The ideas that are expressed through the art will be simplified and edited by our educators in a way that that can be grasped and recreated in a specially tailored children’s art-making activity following each tour.

Sense/Ability tours are available Tuesday through Saturday between 9 – 11 AM. Please contact K–12 Educator, Golda Dopp Ovalles at 801-328-4201 x122 or golda.ovalles@utahmoca.org to schedule.

Art Truck

The UMOCA Art Truck brings exciting and accessible contemporary art, created by leading local and national artists, directly to schools and community venues across the state free of charge.

Each visit includes the expertise of a trained museum art educator who leads students through a meaningful exploration of the exhibition. Teachers are provided with structured lesson plans to supplement their tour and incorporate the Art Truck more deeply into their curriculum.

UMOCA x researcher and artist Nina Elder are pleased to present the 2023-2024 exhibition What Sustains: Landscapes for Curiosity and Connection.

The Art Truck is available free-of-charge for a wide variety of educational purposes. For more information contact the Education team at umocaeducation@gmail.com

Educator Resources

UMOCA’s education programs invite curiosity and offer opportunities to engage not only in hands-on art-making activities, but also in an exploration of the role of art in our lives and our community.

Compiled below are links to a number of our educational activities for your use. We would love for you to share photos of completed projects either on social media or by email. Please be sure to tag UMOCA if you post them on social media. @utahmoca #utahmoca #umoca #arteveryday

For questions or to email photos, contact Golda Dopp Ovalles at umocaeducation@gmail.com.

Mindfulness with UMOCA

The following videos and written material are part of our Mindfulness series–A gift to all, especially our educators, during these stressful and challenging times. UMOCA applauds your hard work, ingenuity, and commitment to your students. We recognize the adaptations and sacrifices you are making this year. This series is your personal reminder to slow down and take care of yourself–mind, body, and spirit. By practicing mindfulness, we unlock our creative and imaginative potential, which your students need from you.

Our Creative Community

This April, we are honored to join our friends at Emerald Project to recognize and support our Muslim community members during Ramadan, the sacred month-long fast of Islam.

Our Creative Community: Art for the Month of Ramadan is a free resource for everyone, especially educators, to increase creativity, collaboration, and understanding in and out of the classroom. The four-week mini arts curriculum includes explanatory and instructional videos, a vocabulary list, and an associated art project.

Freedom of worship has long been a key pillar in our state and we are grateful for the power of art in strengthening our diverse community.

Evening for Educators

Organized by the Springville Museum of Art, the Evenings for Educators series is one of the longest-running programs of the StateWide Art Partnership (SWAP). These events are held on average once a month during the academic year at locations across the state of Utah. Held virtually Tuesday, February 8, 2022.

Out Loud

Out Loud is an artistic platform for young LGBTQIA+ voices.

Through a 12-week workshop series, participants learn from visiting artists, explore new art techniques and mediums, and development their artistic voice. The program culminates in a museum exhibition of their work, and is a celebration of our queer community members. The program provides a safe space for interactions with peers, mentors and the greater community, helping students build positive social connections and share their experiences with others.

There is no charge for accepted students to participate but space is limited. This opportunity is open to CURRENT High School students only. For more information, contact umocaeducation@gmail.com or call 801-328-4201 x122.

Artists-in-Training

Join the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art for a unique opportunity to hone your artistry behind the scenes as an Artist-in-Training. Explore arts techniques and mediums, visit artist studios, learn about contemporary art, and make messes and mistakes along the way! At the end of the week, you’ll showcase your work in a special exhibit at the Museum! This experience will guide you as you dive into the creative process, develop your personal artistic voice, and stay true to your imagination.

Sessions

June 12-16 (Age 9-11)
June 26-30 (Age 12-14)
July 17-21 (Age 9-11)
August 7-11 (Age 12-14)

M T W Th F
9:00 am—2:00 pm

Tuition
Member (Family) price: $245.00 + Waived Studio Fee = $245.00

Become a member here.

Earlybird price (Register before March 25th): $245.00 + $25.00 = $270.00

Nonmember price: $245.00 + $50.00 Studio Fee = $295.00

*Sessions of the same age categories differ slightly but follow the same general theme and curriculum.

Family Art Saturday

UMOCA invites children of all ages and their families to discover our changing exhibitions and participate together in hands-on art making activities led by a trained educator. Each activity connects to a brand new idea, medium or theme explored by an artist currently exhibited in the museum. Projects are suitable from toddler to tween in a wide range of abilities.