LOOKING TO SEE provides structured guided tours and educational outreach to the general public, with a focus on K-12 schools, after-school programs, and community organizations. The Halsey is committed to increasing community engagement by providing greater access to contemporary art, and the tours are open to all interested groups and schools FREE of charge. The Halsey also offers travel subsidies, the Bus on Us initiative, to schools/groups that demonstrate an economic or geographic disadvantage. These subsidies are supported by the Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation.
Tours are led by experienced guides and can be adapted to follow specific content or course objectives as well as being geared towards any age. Our discussion-based tours help students learn how to look closely, think critically, and engage with concepts and ideas related to art and their personal experiences. Through group conversations, students learn about the objects in the exhibition and gain an understanding of the context of the work and related themes and ideas. We believe that consistent exposure to art and art museums builds social capital for all students, helping them to navigate opportunities in the future. Our tours help educators create educational environments outside of the classroom through high-quality learning experiences.
ARTIST LECTURES accompany each exhibition the Halsey Institute originates. When possible, the lectures take place within the exhibition in the form of a gallery walk-through with the artist and curator. Check out our EVENTS page for all the upcoming artist lectures and additional exhibition programming.
FILM SCREENINGS are scheduled throughout the year and are free and open to the public. We show independent films, and the subject matter varies greatly, but the filmmaker is often in attendance for Q & A and discussion. Check our FILM page for information on upcoming films.
BIBLIOTECA is the Halsey Institute reference library that is open to the public for browsing. Biblioteca contains exhibition catalogues, art history books, artist monographs, rare books and books on uncommon topics. This is a non-lending library that offers a cornucopia of inspiration for those interested in visual culture.
EDUCATIONAL BROCHURES are often created to accompany our exhibitions to assist visitors in their understanding and appreciation of the artist's works on view. We've made these guides available online so you can revisit all your favorite past exhibitions and continue to learn about our shows. These brochures are supported by the Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation.