Polk Museum of Art Offers New “Art (Un)Boxed” Summer Program

Lakeland, FL (May 21, 2020) – Each year, the Polk Museum of Art is excited to welcome children and adults alike to participate in its spring and summer programs. With this summer presenting novel circumstances, the Museum’s creative team has developed an alternative Summer 2020 program of art-based activities and projects in the form of boxed kits to be enjoyed from the comfort of home: Art (Un)Boxed.

Available by subscription or offered à la carte, each Art (Un)Boxed kit includes easy-to-follow instructions, prompts that foster creative thinking, all necessary art supplies, and special kit-specific video links featuring the Museum’s favorite instructors.

“We are very excited about the family-focused nature of Art (Un)Boxed as our new, alternative at-home programming beginning this June,” states Dr. Alex Rich, Executive Director and Chief Curator. “These summer kits have been thoughtfully designed by our expert educators and are certain to occupy, entertain, and enlighten creative thinkers of all ages all summer.”

Each Art (Un)Boxed kit promises hours of inspiration, exploration, and creativity from the comfort of home. The Museum is offering 11 unique kits that will be released throughout the summer — each inspired by an artist from the Museum’s permanent collection of American art — and will include topics such as printmaking, mixed media, painting, sculpture, drawing, and more.

“Our Art (Un)Boxed kits are focused on finding inspiration from artists in our collection, exploring their techniques, and reflecting on their work,” explains Ellen Chastain, Education Manager. “It’s important for us to introduce key artists from our collection and use their work to teach and educate our community. As an educational institution, using art to inspire creativity is at the heart of our mission.”

In addition, the Museum is partnering with CreateAskate to provide a one-of-a kind kit designed around the innovation of skate culture and artwork. Students will be able to design and create their own professional skateboard deck for hanging on their walls or taking to the streets.

The Art (Un)Boxed subscriptions will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, May 22. Art kits are designed for wide appeal, to be enjoyed by anyone ages 7 and older. Prices will range between $45 to $85 for à la carte kits, while 10- and 5-box subscriptions will range between $200 to $400. To see the full schedule of kit releases, topics, and ordering details, please visit https://polkmuseumofart.org/art-unboxed.

For any additional questions or information, please contact Ellen Chastain, Education Manager, at echastain@polkmuseumofart.org or 863-688-7743 ex. 227, or Taylor Holycross at tholycross@polkmuseumofart.org or 863-688-7743 ex. 249.