Mabee-Gerrer Museum

The Mabee-Gerrer has developed a special education program, Start with Art, for 4th, 5th and 6th grades that are designed to meet state PASS standards in several subjects including science, social studies, and language arts. 

"Research on learning styles over the past decade has revealed that many students comprehend and retain information longer when learning in a non-classroom setting," says Donna Merkt, curator of education at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.  "We are working with educators to develop programming for all grade levels that reinforces the classroom work and, at the same time, permits students the opportunity to view and to learn from the state's broadest art collection," she adds.  The Start with Art programs include a guided tour, an art project, and additional educational activities as well as a teacher's guide for expanding on these lessons in the classroom.

"We raised over $6000 from our 'Fund-A-Program' auction item at our annual gala," said Museum director Dane Pollei.  "The support and enthusiasm was amazing."  That support, and a grant last spring from Allied Arts has allowed the Museum to offer the Start with Art education programs for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders for free.  "Out of school activities are often the first things to be cut from school budgets.  However, these activities are often critical in motivating students," Pollei notes.

The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art was founded by Fr. Gregory Gerrer and the monks of St. Gregory's Abbey in 1914, making it one of the oldest museums in Oklahoma.  Today the Museum is a non-profit educational organization that features over 8000 years of artwork from around the world.  "Unlike most museums, which often begin with the personal collection of someone wealthy or have a limited focus, every item in the collection of the Mabee-Gerrer has been selected based upon it's ability to teach us something about our world," says Pollei.  Start with Art uses artworks in the Museum's collection as inspiration and departure points for creative, educational lessons that encourage self-motivated learning and meet the needs of diverse learning styles.

The Museum will serve over 4000 school age students this year.  During this school year, nearly 1000 fourth-grade students took advantage of the free museum program.  Around 600 fifth and sixth graders are currently enrolled for Start with Art this spring.  Teachers wanting to participate in the Start with Art program or wanting to schedule a tour should contact Donna Merkt at 405-878-5605 or dlmerkt@mgmoa.org.   Funding for the free admission is limited and is available only on a first-come-first-served basis.   Anyone who wants to help sponsor admission for classes and schools should contact Tonya Ricks, MGMoA development director, at 405-878-5604 or tsricks@mgmoa.org.

The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is located on the campus of St. Gregory's University, 1900 W. MacArthur St. in Shawnee.  The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.  Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors age 65 or older, $3 for students and children ages 6 to 17, and free for children age 5 and younger. For accommodations on the basis of disability or more information, call the museum at (405) 878-5300 or visit www.mgmoa.org.