ACTON, MA – Discovery Museum will host its Inaugural Artist-in-Residence, artist + educator Chanel Thervil, for a week-long public art program during April school vacation week to build a community art installation entitled Communal Gifts.
Thervil will also deliver a Discovery Museum Speaker Series event at 7:00pm on Thursday, April 25, “How Art Can Inspire Civic Engagement in Kids.” The public art program is free with Museum admission; the evening speaker event is free with pre-registration.
Public Art Program Details
Thervil’s public art program, “Creating Communal Gifts,” will engage Museum visitors to create a gift for a community space. Thervil will bring these individual creations together to build a one-of-a-kind art installation that will remain on display at Discovery Museum. The program will be offered Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 19, 10:00am to 12:00pm and again at 1:00pm to 3:00pm (drop-in). Advanced reservations are required to visit the Museum and can be made at www.discoveryacton.org.
Speaker Event Details
Thervil’s Discovery Museum Speaker Series event, “How Art Can Inspire Civic Engagement in Kids,” will be held virtually via Zoom webinar on Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 to 8:00pm ET. The event is free and advance registration is required at http://bit.ly/DMSpeakerSeries.
Thervil will speak about her experience helping children consider what they love about their communities, so they see a place for themselves in making their communities better. She will share her expertise on how the creative process and experience of artmaking is a powerful tool in giving kids the space to connect, share ideas, and be present for others—all important steps in becoming active civic participants.
These Artist-in-Residence events with Chanel Thervil are made possible by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. Thank you!
The 2024 Discovery Museum Speaker Series remains free thanks to the support of Enterprise Bank and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. Additional support is provided by Sutherland Realty Group/Keller Williams Realty Boston NW. Thank you!
Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum that blends science, nature, and play, inspiring families to explore and learn together. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and giant treehouse blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston.
Originally founded in 1982 and expanded to two museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible building after a complete renovation and expansion in early 2018. Hands-on, open-ended exhibits developed by professional educators inspire curiosity and exploration, providing a fun and engaging experience for children and adults to discover their world together. Serving families and schools from towns throughout the region, the museum is devoted to informal education that enhances classroom learning.
Discovery Museum is committed to accessibility and is a proud recipient of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the only winner in the Access category, and a LEAD® Community Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Discovery Museum was also recognized in 2023 as a Finalist for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Medal, the highest honor in the museum field. For more information, please visit www.discoveryacton.org. Discovery Museum is a community-supported non-profit organization. Discovery Museum programming is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
