BRIC Rotunda Gallery In Residence! introduces Brooklyn students to contemporary art through in-school residencies and professional development opportunities for parents, teachers and administrators. We also provide roundtable opportunities focused on capacity building with arts education professionals from all over the State of New York.

Our residency program serves some 9,000 students annually at 25 Brooklyn schools.  We are committed to building successful partnerships between the schools we serve and contemporary artists. The Gallery’s professional development initiatives increase the capacity of teachers to be a part of a collaborative team, to integrate the visual arts into the core curriculum, to engage in meaningful planning and assessment, and to more effectively use the resources of the New York City cultural community.

Each school partner becomes a part of the BRIC Rotunda creative think tank.  We build strong collaborative relationships through workshops that guide educators to identify their best role and responsibilities in the partnership.  Our Artist Educators and Classroom Teachers engage in detailed planning that in turn empowers students to engage, explore, and produce their personal best. In the words of one of our Educational Heroes, Maxine Greene, “Imagination opens up intellectual possibility!”

During our annual KidsArt exhibition, the Gallery celebrates the work created throughout the year by students participating in our education program.

Our Core Beliefs

• Art provides a space for nurturing creative expression, confidence and compassion.

• Creating space for students to explore their imagination can unlock an authentic intelligence that can be applied to all subject areas.

• Nurturing a spirited curiosity can create lifelong learners.

• Involving administrators, teachers, parents, artists and students in the planning process facilitates the creation of site-specific programs that address the unique needs of students and the school community.

• If students are given professional tools for learning and making they will teach us what is possible.

To custom design an art partnership for your school contact Education Director Hawley Hussey at 718 875-4047 x12. 

View photographs of KidsArt 2008 by Robert and Robbie Bailey

"Today’s professional development was wonderful!  The interaction was fantastic and the exchange in comments was enlightening. There is a lot of freedom in this lesson to teach a diverse population of children." - Classroom Teacher

"The class is interesting –using different materials, finding ways to express yourself on paper. I never showed my work in a gallery before. I learned that “contemporary” is art being made today. I’m a contemporary artist." – Student

"The way I see things has changed; I am more creative. I look more closely at things and see “over” what it is. For example, let’s say I look at the sky and draw it out – now I put in meaning and how I feel towards it." – Student

"I’m learning how people live ‘cause what we’re drawing shows how certain people see their life. Art involves a lot of history and the history involves how we made our streets. The true meaning of art is calming down and drawing what’s in your mind. It’s what I love the most." – Student