Tag Archives: community engagement

cARTie Art Museum Bus: Centering Children’s Perspectives Through Virtual Engagement

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cARTie Art Museum Bus , a Connecticut-based nonprofit dedicated to making museums accessible and welcoming for young children, celebrated Slow Art Day virtually this year. Emphasizing children’s voices and perspectives, cARTie shared an engaging video experience on their Instagram, enabling community members to embrace slow-looking practices from home. See the virtual format of their exhibition on their website. 

Featured Works:

  • “Pretty Brown Eyes” by Siena Zawrotny
  • “Quiet Desperation” by Anna Kim
Two cARTie kids look closely at two works of art inside cARTie with different tools and from different angles, with a cARTIe educator. Screenshot from cARTie’s Instagram.
Two cARTie kids look closely at two works of art inside cARTie with different tools and from different angles, with a cARTIe educator. Screenshot from cARTie’s Instagram.

Both artworks, featured on cARTie’s traveling exhibit throughout 2024-2025, were created by secondary school student-artists from Connecticut. Participants watched a thoughtfully produced video highlighting children’s responses and insights, providing practical strategies for slow-looking.

Each work was featured for a recommended 5-10 minutes of focused viewing, encouraging deeper emotional and reflective engagement.

cARTie’s virtual approach captured the perspectives of children, underscoring the importance of accessibility and representation in museum spaces.

We extend our thanks to Clare, Co-Founder and Executive Director of cARTie, and the entire cARTie team for their innovative approach and dedication to Slow Art Day. We look forward to their participation in Slow Art Day 2026.

– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl

P.S. Stay connected with cARTie Art Museum Bus on Instagram.

Slow Art Day at the Boston Athenaeum: Honoring Allan Rohan Crite and Polly Thayer Star

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For their second year participating in Slow Art Day, the Boston Athenaeum hosted a full day of slow looking and community reflection centered around the works of Boston artists Allan Rohan Crite (1910 – 2007) and Polly Thayer Starr (1904 – 2006).

Visitors were invited to explore the Athenaeum’s first floor galleries freely throughout the day or join one of four scheduled guided sessions at 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm (a family session), and 3 pm. Each session began with 10 minutes of slow, close looking at a selected work, followed by a docent-led conversation encouraging participants to share their observations and experiences.

Featured works included:

Visitors participating in a slow looking session inside the historic Boston Athenaeum during Slow Art Day 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Athenaeum)

Self-guided visitors were encouraged to select their own piece of art and use a printed Slow Art Day handout (below) featuring guiding questions for deeper reflection.

Slow Art Day handout (3)Download
Screenshot of the Boston Athenaeum’s social media post for the event. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Athenaeum)

On the day, the United States witnessed the largest coordinated protest since President Trump’s return to office, and the Athenaeum provided a space for contemplation and connection. The choice to highlight the works of Crite, an African American artist, and Starr, a female artist, resonated deeply on a day when issues of representation, equity, and justice were at the forefront of national discourse.

We at Slow Art Day HQ extend our gratitude to the Boston Athenaeum, and to all Slow Art Day hosts, this year for providing a sanctuary for reflection and dialogue during a pivotal moment in the world’s political discourse.

We look forward to seeing what the Boston Athenaeum designs for 2026!

– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl

P.S. You can follow the Boston Athenaeum on: