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by Alyson Moses, Curator of Education and Capitol Galleries

Through a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council, The Oklahoma Arts Council is currently able to provide reimbursement of transportation costs for Oklahoma schools to visit the Capitol. The Capitol Art Travel Subsidy (CATS) program is a valuable addition to our Teaching with Capitol Art resources which already provide online classroom activities and lessons based on the Capitol's historic art collection as well as a free DVD episode of OETA's Gallery series titled The People's Art: A Tour of the Capitol Collection for every Oklahoma school.

CATS prepares the students for their Capitol visit by providing teachers with the Capitol Art Field Trip Guide. The Guide includes age range-specific activities which begin in the classroom, continue during the field trip, and conclude back in the classroom after the visit. The guide also includes all the details needed for a self-guided tour of the Capitol art. For some schools, CATS has been a catalyst for an entire unit of study on Oklahoma such as it was for fourth grade students at Lindbergh Elementary in Tulsa who completed individual research projects on significant Oklahomans and created portraits of Will Rogers and Sequoyah after visiting the Capitol.

The Capitol is a popular destination for field trips, and CATS highlights the multi-faceted educational opportunities it offers. By touring the Capitol Art Collection, students learn about art making and art appreciation while also studying the Oklahoma history which the work depicts. During legislative session, classes may watch lawmaking process from the House and Senate viewing galleries or speak with a legislator like the students of Stillwater Junior High did. Students can learn about the architecture of the building, see the first state flag, and view the first Oklahoma constitution. In addition, viewing the State Art Collection familiarizes the students with significant artists with ties to Oklahoma and the Capitol Galleries shows them art that is being made by Oklahoma artists today.

Launched in October of 2010, CATS has already made field trips to the Capitol possible for schools from Coalgate, Tulsa, Union City, Stillwater, and Fort Towsen among others. And, over one thousand students from thirteen different schools are scheduled to visit over the next few months. If your school is interested in taking part in the program, please contact us as funding is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.

For some schools, our Capitol Art Travel Subsidy (CATS) program has been a catalyst for an entire unit of study on Oklahoma such as it was for fourth grade students at Lindbergh Elementary in Tulsa who completed individual research projects on significant Oklahomans and created portraits of Will Rogers and Sequoyah after visiting the Capitol.

The Capitol is a popular destination for field trips, and our travel subsidies and online lessons and activities highlight the multi-faceted educational opportunities it offers. By touring the Capitol Art Collection, students learn about art making and art appreciation while also studying Oklahoma history through events, people, and places depicted in the artwork.

Launched in the spring of 2011, the CATS program has already made field trips possible for schools from Coalgate, Tulsa, Union City, Stillwater, and Fort Towsen among others. And, over one thousand students from thirteen different schools are scheduled to visit over the next few months. If your school is interested in taking part in the program, please contact us soon - funding is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.

During legislative session, classes may watch lawmaking process from the House and Senate viewing galleries or speak with a legislator like the students of Stillwater Junior High did. Students can learn about the architecture of the building, see the first state flag, and view the first Oklahoma constitution. In addition, viewing the State Art Collection familiarizes the students with significant artists with ties to Oklahoma and the Capitol Galleries shows them art that is being made by Oklahoma artists today.

If you'd like to learn more or apply for a Capitol Art Travel Subsidy please click here.

If you'd like to access the Teaching with Capitol Art online resources please click here.