On the third Thursday of the month, join The Ringling for a FREE hands-on learning program, designed for homeschooling families and small groups. During this interactive program, families explore the museum and learn about works of art, how art connects to other subject areas like English/Language Arts, and additional opportunities to try new art techniques. Each program offers content information for students and their adults, discussion questions to ponder as a family, and additional lesson plans/activities to continue the learning at home. Monthly program themes can be found below.

Please note that this is a self-guiding program. Admission wristbands, a map, and a program packet with activities and information will be provided at check-in and families are invited to explore the museum at their own pace. Guided art-making related to the monthly theme is offered in the MakerSpace.

August 2024 | Ca’ d’Zan
Ca’ d’Zan, or “House of John,” was John and Mable Ringling’s extravagant winter home. It offers a glimpse into John and Mable’s taste and lifestyle, transporting visitors back to the glamorous age of the Roaring Twenties. The Ringlings commissioned renowned architect Dwight James Baum to construct their dream home. Mable worked closely with Baum on all design elements, resulting in imaginative decorations and fine furnishings throughout Ca’ d’Zan. Students will have the opportunity to explore the first floor of the mansion, and then in the MakerSpace, they will use specially designed Ca’ d’Zan architectural stamps and other art materials to recreate and/or reimagine this iconic home.

September 2024 | Shinique Smith
This multi-gallery installation places the work of contemporary artist Shinique Smith (American, b. 1971) in direct dialogue with historic European art, a first in Smith’s career. Several of her large-scale sculptures, along with smaller works, will be displayed in the permanent collection galleries of the Museum of Art. Parade speaks to the European artistic tradition revealing the universality of human experience explored by artists throughout time while also foregrounding notions of Black femininity and the history of the circus. Students will explore her works in the galleries, and then have the opportunity to explore her sculptural practice using fabric and other materials in the MakerSpace.

October 2024 | Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration 2024

Skyway 2024: A Contemporary Collaboration, a partnership between five arts institutions in the Tampa Bay area, is a celebration of the region's artistic practices. Among these varied works are delicate but powerful paper cut works by Joo Yeon Woo, entitled Do Not Draw a Red Star (2023). This month, students will explore this contemporary exhibit, focusing on the work of Joo Yeon Woo and the art of paper cutting, and then explore this medium in various ways in the MakerSpace. Paper cutting is the art form of cutting paper with sharp scissors or a knife. It can be as simple or intricate as the paper artist chooses. It is an art form originating in China in 105 AD but is reflected in many cultural traditions around the world, enduring thousands of years.

November 2024 | Circus
The new Circus exhibit, The Greatest Show on Earth, explores how Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® grew to become one of the most well-recognized brands in the world. The gallery space is designed to evoke the excitement of seeing a live show, while also representing the full spectrum of the production experience from both front- and back-of-house perspectives. Visitors can explore artifacts, costumes, and media footage in an engaging and multisensory experience throughout the exhibition area. Students will explore the new exhibition with special attention to design elements, such as props and costuming. In the MakerSpace, they will use silhouettes from circus posters from the era and mixed media materials to design a circus costume.

There will not be a Homeschool Third Thursday in December. We look forward to seeing you and your family in 2025!