Bring Maine’s contemporary Art
into your Classroom
Virtual Look Inside: FREE Art Lessons from CMCA
Welcome to Virtual Look Inside, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art’s collection of over one hundred free online lessons that bring
Maine’s contemporary artists right into your classroom.
Each Lesson Includes:
Short artist videos and behind-the-scenes studio visits
Hands-on artmaking projects using accessible materials
Discussion prompts that spark creative thinking
Downloadable guides tied to Maine Learning Results
These lessons are designed to inspire your students, and make it easy for you to
bring contemporary art into your teaching. Here are two sample lessons:
K-2 | Ann Craven : Birds We Know
Inspired by the bright colors and experimental nature of Ann Craven's paintings in Birds We Know, students will create mixed media scenes featuring a bird of their choice.
3-5 | Anna Hepler : The Referee
Inspired by the sculptural work of Anna Hepler, students will create a slot sculpture piece that manipulates flat materials like cardboard and clay to create the illusion of depth.
Also included:
Artist Interviews
Virtual Look Inside tours of recent exhibitons
Webinars
Here are three brand new videos of artists from the 2025 Biennial Exhibition currently on view at CMCA.
For Maine Educators
All Virtual Look Inside lessons are FREE for Maine educators.
Sign up below to get full access to the lesson library and start exploring today!
Not a Maine Educator?
We’re excited to share these resources more widely soon!
Join our newsletter, and we’ll let you know when Virtual Look Inside opens up to everyone, plus you’ll get updates on CMCA exhibitions, programs, and artist features.
About CMCA Education
At CMCA, we believe every student deserves access to contemporary art and creative experiences. Our education programs connect artists, teachers, and learners across Maine — encouraging curiosity, imagination, and new
ways of seeing the world.
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