K12 Teacher Workshop: Art, History, and the Power of Cause & Effect

On May 30, 2026, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center will co-host an interactive workshop for K–12 teachers centered on the theme “Cause and Effect” in U.S. and world history and in the visual arts.

Participants will have a unique opportunity to hear directly from renowned artist Shahzia Sikander about her new video installation The Last Post, a powerful exploration of the enduring impacts of British colonialism in Asia. The program will include a guided tour of The Last Post along with other artworks that illuminate the workshop’s theme.

Following the gallery tour, teachers will participate in a hands-on, collaborative art-making session led by artist Monica Jahan Bose. Throughout the workshop, educators will receive materials and resources connected to the themes discussed, helping spark fresh ideas for integrating history and art into their classroom teaching.

K-12 teachers attending this workshop will:

• Meet and work with two artists, as part of a community of educators interested in interdisciplinary classroom teaching.

• Learn about how the arts and processes of artmaking can bring opportunities for reflection and dialogue on legacies of U.S. and world histories.

• Deepen content knowledge about U.S. and world history and gain new approaches for connecting the visual arts to history for students.

During this workshop, a light breakfast and lunch will be provided. All participants will walk away with teaching materials and a certificate of completion.

To save your spot for this workshop, please register by Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 11:30pm EST. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Shahzia Sikander, The Last Post, 2010, single-channel HD digital animation, color, 5.1 surround sound; 10:00 minutes. Music: Du Yun, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, 2025.11, ©2025, Shahzia Sikander. Courtesy the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

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