This episode of MoNA Moments highlights the original vision and evolution of MoNA Link, MoNA's School Partnership Program through a conversation with three individuals who shaped the program over the past two decades.

You'll hear from the founder of the program, Margaret Groff, a studio artist currently living in Port Townsend. She was the first Education Director at MoNA, from 2000 to 2008. She has also worked as a museum educator at the WSU Museum of Art in Pullman, WA and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI.

You'll also hear the perspective of Christine Wardenburg-Skinner, who lives in Edison. She worked at the MoNA from 2010-2014, first as MoNA Link Education Director then as the first Director of Outreach. She is a practicing artist and has spent the last four decades as an art educator in both Skagit and Whatcom Counties.

Finally, you'll hear Nicolette Harrington, the current coordinator of the MoNA Link Program and textile artist, painter and printmaker working out of Wingshadow Studios in La Conner. She has an MS in Art Education from Mass College of Art, and was the Art Specialist in Fairfax County, VA and Oak Harbor, WA for many years.

The conversation is facilitated by Ellie Cross, MoNA's Community Outreach Coordinator.

MoNA Link is a two-year professional development program for teachers focused on art education that offers multiple teacher training days, as well as museum visits and classroom visits with standards based, integrated art lessons for their students designed by museum educators.

Established in 2003, this program is a partnership between the Museum of Northwest Art and local school districts designed to provide comprehensive art education for students ranging from Pre-K to High School.

Since its start in 2003, the MoNA Link program has served over 8,953 students and provided training for 181 teachers in school districts throughout Skagit, Whatcom and Island Counties. MoNA Link encourages students to become confident communicators, engaged listeners, active observers, and creative problem solvers.

Thank you for listening to this MoNA Moment!

Read the transcript of this podcast episode on our website: https://www.monamuseum.org/mona-moments-podcast