Since 2001, Dia has worked closely with the Beacon City School District to develop an in-depth and extensive Arts Education Program (AEP) for the students of the Beacon City schools.

High School Program

In 2004, Dia’s AEP program at the Beacon High School included a ten-week workshop with video artist Kathleen Sweeney, a local artist currently based in Cold Spring, New York. This program was specially designed to take advantage of the high school’s television studio. Kathleen Sweeney joined the high school video instructor Mike Gersh and art teachers Diane Mikula and Cynthia Petrovits to lead a workshop where students conceived, recorded and produced a video based on Dia’s collection. Through the camera lens, students explored the way people physically react to the challenges of the artworks on display in the museum and how the viewer’s space is modified by the installations. Additionally, the students composed an original soundtrack for the video by recording the haunting and pervasive sounds that echo in the art galleries.

In 2009 video artist Kirsten Mosher worked with the Beacon High School’s video class and ceramics class to create an innovative video reflecting the notions behind systems and rituals.

Dia's education department is actively formulating activities and lesson plans developed by school groups visiting Dia: Beacon. If you would like to share them with other school teachers and Dia’s visitors, please contact sbachelier @ diaart.org.