The Crocker’s Art Ark is a mobile art education center designed for K-8 students that brings original works of art and art activities to schools throughout the region. On the road since 1980, the Art Ark is distinguished in the nation as one of the first mobile art museums, and one of the few focusing on hands-on learning. The Art Ark has served more than 400,000 students from 450 schools.

Current Installation
The Art Ark will launch a new theme – Building Imagination: The Art of Architecture – in the Fall of 2009. Students will examine the history of architecture, the relationship between art and design, and how architecture reflects time, place, and community ideals.

The Art Ark at Your School
Each classroom (K-8 up to 32 students) will take a one-hour guided tour of the Art Ark. During this tour, students will discuss the architectural timeline and explore interactive learning stations. All stations are designed to be self-directed for students, parents and teachers.

Prior to the arrival of the Art Ark, the Crocker’s Outreach Coordinator will host an orientation meeting for teachers at the school site. Each teacher will receive the Art Ark Curriculum Guide, which contains descriptions of the artworks and activities on the Art Ark as well as pre- and post-visit lesson plans. All lessons are written to correlate to the California State Content Standards in Language Arts, Social Studies and Visual Arts. The lessons are general enough that they can be adapted to the ability and grade level of your students. Booklets are provided to each teacher after a visit from the Art Ark is scheduled.

Cost

An Open House event may also be scheduled for an additional $150.00. This event is open to students, parents, and staff to enjoy the Art Ark after school or during the evening for 1.5 Hours.  If an Open House is scheduled, one on-site staff member is required for the duration of the event.

Make a Reservation
Because the Art Ark schedule fills quickly, schools interested in scheduling the Art Ark should make a reservation as soon as possible. A limited number of scholarships are also available for the Art Ark.