For Schools & Educators

SAM is expanding the role of cultural institutions in K–12 education through advocacy, collaboration, and the development of innovative partnerships and programs. Benefits of being a partner school include free resources, professional development, field trips, subsidized bussing, free student admission, and more. SAM prioritizes partnering with Title 1 schools and availability is based on staff capacity.

Email us to learn more about becoming a partner school.

Beginning in 2016, SAM has provided an annual program for all second graders throughout Highline Public Schools to receive an in-depth exploratory visual arts program at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Created with Highline teacher advisors, this program targets students' social, emotional, and developmental stages while giving them first-hand experiences with art and ecosystems.

Since 2019, SAM has provided an annual program for all upper elementary students throughout Seattle Public Schools at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. In collaboration with SPS teacher advisors, SAM developed a curriculum focused on K–5 literacy standards, as well as identity development and student voice.

Support for K-12 programs during the 2024-2025 school year is provided by the BNSF Railway Foundation, Foster Foundation, and Hearst Foundations. Partial, sustained support for SAM’s K-12 programs is provided by an endowment established in 1999 by a National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant and the generous contributions of matching donors, including the Ann P. Wyckoff Education Endowment. The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs at the Seattle Art Museum has supported SAM K–12 programs since 1994.