The Art Museum of West Virginia University recently visited two regional elementary schools to share books about museums. The ongoing initiative is aimed at helping kids in rural communities learn about museums and museum careers.
Heather Harris, educational curator for the Art Museum of WVU, secured a $15,000 grant from the Art Bridges Cohort Program led by the Cincinnati Art Museum. The funds were used to purchase copies of three museum-related books aimed at different age groups: “The Museum” by Susan Verde and Peter H Reynolds for preschool and first grade students, “See Inside a Museum” by Mathew Oldham and Annie Carbo for second and third graders and “Behind the Scenes at the Museum: Your All Access Guide to the World’s Amazing Museums” by DK/Smithsonian for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to expand our reach through this book distribution project,” Harris said. “Art Bridges’ support allows us to reach schools further away from Morgantown and serve more of West Virginia’s children. Likewise, a partnership with Monkey Wrench Books helped us maximize the project’s impact through bulk ordering. It is an effort truly rooted in the community and illustrative of our commitment to WVU’s land grant mission.”
On May 21, Harris and Virginia Afferman, program coordinator for the Art Museum of WVU, distributed the books to West Preston School in Arthurdale, West Virginia. They then visited Mason Dixon Elementary School in Blacksville, West Virginia, on May 27. During the fall 2025 semester, more books will be delivered to schools in Marion County, West Virginia.
Program Coordinator Virginia Afferman helped distribute the books
“Working closely with the Art Museum of WVU has been a unique and impactful experience for my students,” said Chelsea Golden, a third grade teacher at Mason Dixon Elementary. “Getting these books in their hands for them to learn about the ins and outs of museums and all the jobs that are included is an amazing way for them to learn about careers they may be interested in pursuing.”
At each school visit, Harris and Afferman read one of the books and provide copies for each student and the school’s library. They engage the students in conversations about museums and related career opportunities. Each book also includes a worksheet about the Art Museum of WVU with a list of upcoming events, workshops and information about how to visit.
“Being able to receive a book for every student in our building has been a wonderful blessing for our students,” said Amanda Rhodes, assistant principal at West Preston School. “I've heard so much positive feedback from students and parents about the quality of the books. We are always looking for ways to bring the ‘bigger world’ to our kiddos, and this grant through WVU made that possible for our students.”
Heather Harris handed out books and worksheets to elementary students
The project was inspired by “Radiant Pages: The Art of the Book,” an exhibit Harris co-curated for the museum during the spring 2025 semester. The exhibit explored the power of books as art forms. The visually engaging books distributed to the students continue to show the link between literacy and visual literacy.
“It has been thrilling to watch students, teachers, and principals get excited about museum spaces and careers, opening their eyes to possibilities in North Central West Virginia and beyond,” Harris said. “While the exhibition that inspired this project is now closed, we hope it will inspire them to engage with the Art Museum of WVU when we reopen with brand new exhibitions in August.”
Though the inside of the museum is closed for the summer, art lovers are encouraged to visit the Art Museum of WVU’s free outdoor sculpture garden located directly outside the museum. For more information about the Art Museum of WVU, visit artmuseum.wvu.edu.