The Summer Institute on Contemporary Art (SICA), was established in 2013 as a professional development institute for preK12 teachers.
Dana Carlisle Kletchka, Assistant Professor of Art Museum Education in the Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy at The Ohio State University (former Curator of Education at the Palmer Museum of Art and Affiliate Assistant Professor of Art Education,) and B. Stephen Carpenter, II, Dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and Professor of Art Education and African American Studies in the School of Visual Arts (SoVA) are the co-founders of SICA.
In 2021, SICA became an initiative of the Studio for Sustainability and Social Action (S3A), and Alexandra Allen, Postdoctoral Scholar of Art Education and Managing Director of S3A, joined as co-director for the institute in 2021-2022.
In 2024, Aaron Knochel, Associate Professor of Art Education, joined as Director of SICA.
SICA participants are pK12 teachers and museum educators who engage in intensive face-to-face experiences in the Palmer Museum of Art and in studio classrooms in SoVA.
In previous iterations, participants interacted directly with works of art from the permanent collection and exhibition galleries, engaged in intimate interpretation sessions with contemporary works on paper in the Print Study Room, discussed readings, participated in gallery talks, and an art-making studio experience. Participants engage with contemporary artists and their works via documentaries, podcasts, gallery talks, readings, and lectures. Participants also create artworks that respond to themes related to SICA themes.
Participants will gain knowledge about interpretation and art criticism by working directly with SICA faculty and visiting scholars to interpret contemporary works of art as means to explore approaches to meaning making, pedagogy, curriculum, and art making inspired by contemporary art. Registration is FREE.
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