What is the Picture Person Program?

Picture Person is an art appreciation program run by the Parent – Teacher Organization and is offered to each class at Ridgeview once a month from October through May.  Prints and histories of famous artists are introduced to the students by parent volunteers.  Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences supports elementary and middle schools year-round by providing training, lending out art print packages and other materials to all volunteers.  Ridgeview PTO has assigned a Chair person to coordinate volunteers and help guide them through this program.  

What is the purpose of the Picture Person Program?

The purpose is to foster in students an appreciation for art history and the visual arts. This program is structured to assist the Picture Person volunteer and the classroom teacher in fulfilling the Illinois State Goals for Learning in Fine Arts.

How did the Picture Person Program start?

The Picture Person Program began in 1966 at Northmoor School in Peoria, Illinois.  As educational funding for the arts began to dwindle, a void was left in the school system. Using many different models from many sources, a concept was developed to help bring examples of fine art into schools. The basic idea of bringing art appreciation to the students has remained over the years, but the method of educating and training have changed to better meet the needs of the students, teachers, and volunteers.

Who benefits from this program?

Students, teachers, and volunteers all benefit from this program. Students learn about fine arts. The inclusion of the Illinois State Learning Goals assists the teachers with their curricula.  Volunteers have the opportunity to gain new knowledge—no previous experience with art history is required or expected.

How does the program work at RES?

Parents sign up in their children’s classrooms at the beginning of the school year to volunteer to be a Picture Person Volunteer.  The parent volunteers are assigned a month or more to present art work of famous artists and present the history of the artist and the art piece.  Eight different prints of famous artists are assigned to each classroom in K-5.  Each grade will share the prints rotating them monthly.  We have 51prints of a famous artist. 

What does the PTO provide to the volunteers?

Each print will have a Print Folder containing the history of the artist and of the art piece and perhaps an activity sheet related to the artist’s style.  Other materials available to help prepare for presentations are library books and other publications relating to art history, artists, art movements, lesson plans, photographs, etc.  Some supplies are provided to help activities to be carried out; such as, paints, brushes, oil pastel chalks, glue, markers, colored construction paper, drawing paper, and other mediums and  recycled materials. 

 

If you would more information, you may contact the Picture Person Chair.  You may also refer to Lakeview Museum’s web site:  http://www.lakeview-museum.org/education/pictureperson.html