Explorers Program | Newark Museum
Skip to main content
Home

Top navigation start

  • EMAIL SIGNUP
  • DONATE
  • BECOME A MEMBER
  • PLAN EVENT
  • LEARN WITH US
BACK

Search form

  • Dedicated Right Nav
    • Newark Black Film Festival
      • Black Film Festival
      • Film Inquiries
      • Youth Cinema Schedule
      • Adult Cinema Schedule
      • Sponsors
    • Tiaras to Toe Rings
      • Tiaras to Toe Rings Overview
      • Tibet
      • China
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • Amulets
    • Red Luster
      • Red Luster Overview
      • East Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • Central Asia
      • Leather
      • Functions
    • Sponsors
    • Tibet Collection Exhibitions
      • Tibet Collection Exhibitions
      • Chapel of the Masters
        • Overview
        • Arhat
        • Mahasiddha
        • Nyingma Order
        • Kadam Order
        • Kagyu Order
        • Sakya Order
        • Gelug Religious Order
      • Chapel of the Fierce Protectors
        • Overview
        • Rituals and Ritual Implements
        • Deities
      • From the Sacred Realm
        • Overview
        • Five Tathagatha Buddha
        • Bodhisattva
        • Paradises and Purelands
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
      • Directions
      • Admission & Hours
      • Accessibility
      • Visitor's Guide
      • Contact Us
    • Amenities
      • Newark Area Links
  • On View
    • Exhibitions
      • Virtual
      • Upcoming
      • Ongoing
      • Previous
      • Traveling
    • In the Galleries
      • Arts of Global Africa
      • American Art
        • Overview
        • Seeing America
      • Arts of the Americas
      • Arts of Global Asia
        • Arts of Global Asia Overview
        • Tibet
        • China
        • Japan
        • South & Southeast Asia
        • Oceania
        • Korea
      • Art of the Ancient Mediterranean
      • Decorative Arts
        • Overview
        • Style, Status, Sterling
      • The Ballantine House
      • Museum Garden
        • Overview
        • Fire Museum
      • Science Exhibits
        • Overview
        • Dynamic Earth
        • Planetarium
        • emPOWERED
        • Saturn
  • Programs
    • For Adults
      • #NMOAatHome
      • Member Experiences
      • Courses & Workshops
      • Talks & Panels
      • Films & Performances
      • Special Events
      • Benefit Events
      • Virtual Escape Room
    • For Youth & Families
      • Creative Play/Family Drop-Ins
      • Special Events
      • Explorers Program
        • General Information
        • Application
        • Upcoming Events
        • Stay Connected
      • Virtual Planetarium
        • Overview
      • MakerSPACE
      • Interactive Galleries
    • For Educators
      • Virtual Field Trips
      • Professional Development for Educators
      • Online Residencies
      • Virtual Science & Tech Fairs
      • Homeschool Virtual Programs
      • Teacher Resources
  • About
    • Mission & Governance
      • History
      • Mission
      • Financial Information
      • Trustees
      • Leadership
    • Press Office
      • Press Releases
      • Media Only
      • In the News
      • Archived News
      • Archived Press Releases
    • Museum Links
      • Brick City Stories
      • Career Opportunities
      • Internship Program
      • Area Links
    • Collections
      • Library & Archives
      • Library Search
      • Collections Search
      • Collections Stewardship
  • Support Us
    • Annual Fund
      • Donate Today
      • Create a Recurring Gift Today
      • Gifts of Stock/Securities and Wire Transfers
    • Tribute & Legacy Gifts
      • Special Occasion and Memorial Gifts
      • Making a Planned Gift
      • Name a Seat in The Billy Johnson Auditorium
      • John Cotton Dana Society Testimonials
    • Campaigns & Fundraisers
      • Give to the Annual Fund Match
      • Give to the Ballantine House Fund
      • Give to the Explorers Fund
      • Annual Fall Luncheon
      • Annual Museum Tea
    • Ways to Give
      • Corporate Support
      • Join Founder’s Society
      • Join/Renew Membership
      • Become a Volunteer
      • Making a Gift to the Museum
      • AmazonSmile Foundation
      • Adopt the Donation Box for a Month
Directions
  • Direction Map
  • GET DIRECTION
 
Share Program
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Explorers Program

General Information

There can be no doubt that our enthusiasm for The Newark Museum of Art’s Explorers program is matched tenfold by our Explorers themselves. Since 1995, we have mentored and supported these future leaders and they in turn have filled our galleries and new virtual realms with their passion and purpose.

More than our national awards and recognition from leading funders and our 100% college acceptance rate for graduating seniors, it is the personal journeys of our Explorers that are the true measure of our success.

Read the program’s impact first hand from our graduating Senior Explorers: In Their Own Words. [Click here]

 

  .

 

 

 

About the Explorers Program

The Explorers Program is a college, career and life readiness program that enables Newark-area high school students to build essential skills and self-confidence through a curriculum that draws upon the Museum’s unique collections, resources, and staff. Every year, 40+ students from diverse backgrounds learn about their passions and strengths and develop new skills as public speakers, teachers, researchers, and leaders. Students are also paid for their participation in the Program. Explorers rotate through internships in different areas of the Museum and lead student-designed projects to gain real-life experience in a variety of jobs and fields of study.


In addition, students attend workshops focused on leadership training, public speaking, team-building, and museum-based art and science projects that promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning. Group trips to other institutions of culture and learning are another important part of the Explorers' experience. Over their three to four-year tenure in the Program, participants must commit to spending six after-school hours per week in the program during the school year, in addition to 30 hours of community service per year, and 25 hours per week each summer.

Since the program began 25 years ago, more than 300 students have graduated from the Explorers Program. Over the past 12 years, 100% of students graduating from the Program attended institutions of higher education.

We Won!

2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award
On November 9, 2017, representatives from the Newark Museum were in the Nation’s capital to receive an award from all three federal arts and culture agencies—the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—on behalf of the Explorers Program. The program was recognized for its effectiveness in promoting learning and life skills in young people by engaging them through creative youth development programs. The after-school program received the 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the nation’s highest honor for these programs.

The award recognizes the country’s best creative youth development programs for using engagement in the arts and the humanities to generate a wide range of positive outcomes, such as increases in academic achievement, graduation rates, and college enrollment. The awardees—chosen from a pool of 350 nominations and 50 finalists—were also recognized for improving literacy and language abilities, communication and performance skills, and cultural awareness.

Explorer Samantha Joseph was selected as the youth speaker for the NAHYP award and in her speech, she reflected upon her experiences as an Explorer. You can watch the ceremony and her speech here:  CLICK HERE.

 

Screen Shot 2020-07-09 at 11.49.00 AM.png


 

Major funding provided by:

Columbia Bank Foundation; PSEG Foundation; Panasonic; Victoria Foundation; Prudential Foundation; The New York Community Trust, Wattles Family Charitable Fund; The Provident Bank Foundation; AT&T Foundation; Capital One; Verizon Foundation; Turrell Fund; United; F.M. Kirby Foundation; Laura J. Niles Foundation; Charles E. and Edna T. Brundage Charitable Scientific and Wild Life Conservation Foundation; The Eleanor Upton Charitable Foundation; and generous individual donors.

General Information Explorers Program

Creative Play/Family Drop-Ins
Special Events
Explorers Program
  • General Information
  • Application
  • Upcoming Events
  • Stay Connected
Virtual Planetarium
MakerSPACE
Interactive Galleries
VIEW CALENDAR DONATE TODAY

PROGRAMS

  • Virtual Creative Play

    Explore the Museum's art and science collections through virtual storytelling, song, playful activities and an art-making project.

    VIEW DETAILS
  • Virtual Experiences for All at #NMOAatHome

    Even during this time of physical distancing, The Newark Museum of Art has lots to offer its visitors of all ages. Join us throughout the week for discussions, workshops, gallery tours, social events and more.

    VIEW DETAILS

FEATURED

Featured Exhibition Photo

Member Experiences

Take Place Throughout the Year

Members of The Newark Museum of Art are able to take part in several members-only events throughout the year, even now through several virtual offerings. And if you are not yet a member, become one today and don't miss out on these exclusive opportunities.

VIEW DETAILS

The Newark Museum of Art

973.596.6550
  • ADMISSION HOURS
  • Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm
  • Thursday-Sunday: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
    Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: closed; school groups only (except MLK Jr. Day)
    To reserve your tour, call 973.596.6690
  • Closed: New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day & December 25.
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102-3176 | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY
© 2020 THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART

Make Room to Wonder.

Contact Us

Hours

Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm
Thursday-Sunday: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: closed; school groups only (except MLK Jr. Day)
To reserve your tour, call 973.596.6690

Closed: New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day & December 25.

Directions

Footer Map
The Newark Museum of Art
973.596.6550
49 Washington Street,
Newark, NJ
07102-3176

GET DIRECTIONS

Adult Group: 973.596.6550
School Group: 973.596.6690
Membership: 973.596.6686

The Newark Museum of Art is committed to making its collection, buildings, programs and services accessible to all audiences. For more information click here

Contact Us

Hours

Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm
Thursday-Sunday: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: closed; school groups only (except MLK Jr. Day)
To reserve your tour, call 973.596.6690

Closed: New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day & December 25.

Directions

Footer Map
The Newark Museum of Art
973.596.6550
49 Washington Street,
Newark, NJ
07102-3176

GET DIRECTIONS


Adult Group: 973.596.6650
School Group: 973.596.6690
Membership: 973.596.6699
The Newark Museum of Art is committed to making its collection, buildings, programs and services accessible to all audiences. For more information click here
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102-3176 | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY
© 2021 THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART