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Education

Teachers

Contemporary Art Start

“Your students will love it and you’ll notice so much growth in confidence and reasoning, as well as an appreciation for art and the greater community of Los Angeles.”

“Engaging, supportive, inclusive, entertaining.”

Learn how to lead energizing, thoughtful discussions that reach ALL your students. Gain immediately useful, proven skills and meet new colleague-friends in Contemporary Art Start, MOCA’s yearlong art education program for 3rd-12th grade educators of all disciplines and their students. And now welcoming educators at non-profits!

The facts:

  • 30 hours of PD / 1 LAUSD salary point

  • PD starts in June and July for the 2026-27 school year

  • Two museum visits; one free bus

  • Choose full track of PD and museum visits or just PD only

  • Classroom curriculum

  • Family programs

  • $25 for the year, in-person or online

  • Registration deadline: June 12

3rd-5th grade info and registration

Secondary info and registration

Questions? Check out our FAQ doc or email us at education@moca.org.

Join our teacher mailing list here. See you at MOCA!

Lead support is provided by The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation.

Major support is provided by the Max H. Gluck Foundation.

Generous support is provided by the The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, and the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund.

Additional support is provided by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Capital Group, The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, and the Tamara L. Harris Foundation.

The Rebecca Smith Summer Institute is made possible by generous endowment support from Lois Rosen.

MOCA’s education programs are made possible by generous endowment support from the W. M. Keck Foundation and The Hearst Foundations.

Education programs at MOCA are supported by the MOCA Fund for Education with lead funding provided by Terri and Michael Smooke. Major funding is provided by the MOCA Projects Council. Generous funding is provided by an anonymous donor. Additional funding is provided by Kristen Boggs Jaeger and Jeff Jaeger, The David and Linda Shaheen Foundation, Berry Stein, and Daryl and Robert Offer.

MONUMENTS Digital Curriculum Guide

Installation view of MONUMENTS, October 23, 2025–May 3, 2026 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and The Brick. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen.

Installation view of MONUMENTS, October 23, 2025–May 3, 2026 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Courtesy of The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and The Brick. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen.

In conjunction with the recent landmark exhibition MONUMENTS, MOCA created the MONUMENTS Digital Curriculum Guide to help educators facilitate moments of creativity and conversation around a selection of featured artworks. In collaboration with a local high school teacher who participated in the MONUMENTS Advisory Council, this resource was developed to center contemporary voices and perspectives in considering United States history. The six lessons include guided prompts for journaling, image discussions, and activities. Educators can focus on any lesson portion or use the entire guide as a unit of study.