Programming includes artist talks, lectures, workshops, and other special events. Two additional galleries include the Student Gallery, which displays works from area schools and colleges, and the Panoramic Gallery that features self-curated shows by local artists. These two galleries offer up to 24 additional exhibits a year. An extensive arts education program serves school and public audiences both within and outside of the facility. The Museum also features artist studios, the Looking Glass Museum Store, reference library, research archives, and an outdoor sculpture garden.
An extensive arts education program serves both school and public audiences. Tour Plus, the core in-house program, provides a first museum visit for many of the region’s children, and VanGogh Outreach places arts educators directly in classrooms of 12 Southwest Virginia school districts serving approximately 3,200 children three times a year. Both programs were developed in response to the lack of arts education at the elementary level and are providing SOL-based curriculum enrichment in service to the region’s schools.
For adults, core instruction is available in a variety of media, which is augmented by special offerings, which range from oil painting to life drawing to banjo – and much in between! Educational facilities on-site include a fully equipped clay studio, black & white darkroom equipment, printmaking press and numerous multi-purpose classrooms. These facilities are also used in the Museum’s in-house school programs throughout the academic year, and in after-school or weekend offerings for youngster’s ages pre-K through 12.