The applicant requested a Chairman's grant of $24,392 to run a one-day in-service workshop that focuses on the images and themes of Picturing America (PA), together with the PA Teachers Resource Book. The workshop, taking place in August 2009, will serve approximately 175 teachers and librarians from the Pittsburgh Public Schools, which have adopted PA system-wide. The teachers will be drawn from arts, humanities, and social studies fields, with the goal of advancing instruction in American history, civics, government, literature, and culture. The distinguished American collection of the Carnegie Museum will receive attention for its relevance to the PA portfolio (including a John Singer Sargent canvas included in PA). However, the primary emphasis and the majority of time will be spent on actual PA reproductions and the Teachers Resource Book. The workshop presenters, who are well-established humanities scholars, will impart rich humanities content and background knowledge to participants. Training in basic visual analysis of art objects will be included. The themes of Picturing America-Leadership, Freedom and Equality, Democracy, Courage, Landscape, Creativity and Ingenuity-will inform presentations and discussions; and the workshop will devote approximately equal attention to works chronologically. The NEH Chairman's Grant of $24,392 will cover the total budget for running this workshop, including modest teacher stipends and working lunches, speakers' honoraria, and museum staff and facilities

One day professional development in-service workshop for teams of Pittsburgh Public School arts, humanities and social studies teachers to develop strategies for incorporating the Picturing America project in district curriculum. Picturing America posters and materials will be used to foster visual art reception and analysis, encouraging students to express their own ideas and perspectives through the complementary critical and creative process of reading, writing, discussing, and art making.