School Programs

The Frick Pittsburgh believes in creating meaningful, engaging learning experiences for students, whether they take place online or in-person. We offer a wide variety of student programming at every grade level.

School Programs at the Frick

As part of our continued commitment to keeping our staff and visitors safe and to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community, The Frick Pittsburgh is offering limited on-site student programs for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year. Proof of vaccination is no longer required for school groups, but to participate in an on-site program all groups must meet the following requirements:

For on-site school programs, the Frick will defer to each school’s masking policy for their students. KN95 masks are available on-site by request.
In order to make social distancing easier, programs will be limited to 35 students or less, plus chaperones.

In addition to the above requirements, the Frick is putting the following safety procedures in place:

For art projects, all students will be provided with their own set of clean art supplies.
All school programs will be a maximum of two hours long.
Indoor lunch space is not available at this time.
All Frick staff are fully vaccinated and boosted.
On-site school programs will not take place if the CDC categorizes the COVID-19 transmission level in Allegheny County as substantial or high. If a substantial or high transmission level prevents a school program from taking place, we will do our best to reschedule. Information about transmission levels in Allegheny County can be found here.

Programs and tours are available for The Frick Art Museum, the Car & Carriage Museum, and the first floor of Clayton. On-site school programs are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be scheduled for April 1 or later.

To request an on-site program for your students, please email Education@thefrickpittsburgh.org. Please note that space is limited and we recommend that you contact us at least on month prior to your preferred date. In your email, please include your preferred date, your students’ grade level, and which museum(s) you are interested in visiting, and information on how your visit would tie into your classroom teaching.

Digital Learning with the Frick

If you are unable to make it to the Frick for an in-person visit, we are happy to talk with you about digital options. For more information about virtual learning with the Frick, please contact Stacey McSorley, Youth and Family Program Coordinator, at SMcSorley@thefrickpittburgh.org. In your email, please be sure to include the following information:

Your name and contact information, including email and phone number
Name of the school
Grade level of students
The subject matter you are interested in (i.e. art, history, etc)

Grade Level Experiences

Grades K-2

Kids in Clayton or The Frick Art Museum? Not a problem! Younger students can enjoy a multidisciplinary morning designed just for them. Lively interaction is the norm as students delve into the world of artists and their creations, compare and contrast modern childhood with that of Victorian boys and girls and imagine what travel would be like in the days of horse-drawn carriages and rickety Model Ts. Games, rhymes, and hands-on projects make these visits to The Frick Art Museum, Clayton, and the Car and Carriage Museum memorable experiences for your students.

Grades 3-5

Students are challenged to use deductive reasoning, visual literacy and critical thinking skills as they experience the Frick. Why is the queen in the painting without a crown? How did you charge an electric car in 1902? What would it take to get a house ready for a visit from President Teddy Roosevelt? And what in the world is an orchestrion? Whether making art in our studio, examining banana trees and cactus in the greenhouse, struggling to fasten shoes with a buttonhook or figuring out how to start a Model T, students will gain new perspectives as they interact with art and history through engaging, hands-on discovery.

Grades 6-8

As students look closely at sculpture or handle century-old household objects, learn the personal histories of chambermaids and countesses and even use math skills to solve perspective or convert nineteenth-century value into modern dollars, they can apply concepts learned in the classroom with a new context at the Frick. Our programs communicate wide-ranging experiences, stories and emotions that make sense to today’s students.

Grades 9-12

Students explore a wide range of cultures and times at the Frick, including European history and Gilded Age America. Themes of labor, aesthetics, economics, industrialization and human struggle can all be addressed in our inquiry-based tours and workshops. Whether you are looking to help your students understand the formal properties of art or the impact of automobile design on society, we can help you find the right program to enhance your curriculum.

Enjoy special discounts

Teacher Membership

Did you know there’s a category of membership just for teachers and administrators? You can enjoy all the regular benefits of membership at the individual level, receive free admission for two to all lectures and discounts on Act 48 programs.

Purchase Teacher Membership

The Roy A. Hunt Foundation Award for Commitment to Education in the Arts and Humanities

Each year, the Roy A. Hunt Foundation Award for Commitment to Education in the Arts and Humanities is presented to a teacher who has demonstrated a commitment to participating in the Frick’s education programs, and who has successfully integrated the arts and humanities into the students’ learning experience.

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