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Multilingual Offerings and Literacy Programs

Adult English language learners sit on stools and discuss a painting in the museum’s galleries while a museum educator stands in front and points at an object on the left side of the painting.

Crystal Bridges strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors. The museum offers select materials and brochures in multiple languages, including Spanish and Marshallese, as well as guided tours in Spanish or with American Sign Language interpretation. The newly re-installed Early American art galleries will feature bilingual content in English and Spanish as will the audio guide.

The museum collaborates with several local literacy councils and adult education centers to design literacy programs that connect English language learners with works of art, enhancing students’ language skills while learning about American history and culture.

If you are interested in bringing your ESOL class to the museum, please email LiteracyPrograms@CrystalBridges.org.

Drop-in Tours

Sign Language interpretation for all programs and tours is offered upon request with advanced notice based on availability. Please email Access@CrystalBridges.org.
Sign Language Interpretation Available Symbol

Adult English language learners from the Springdale Family Literacy Program stand and smile while showcasing flipbooks with pictures and words they created as part of the program.

Literacy Programming

Ozark Literacy Council and Literacy Council of Benton County

Once a month, English language learners enrolled in programs through the Literacy Council of Benton County in Bentonville and Ozark Literacy Council in Fayetteville visit the museum for programs with volunteer tutors. During each session, participants practice conversational English skills through a gallery discussion in which participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas about works of art in the collection.

Transportation provided, in part, by Pinnacle Car Services

Springdale Family Literacy Program

Crystal Bridges collaborates with the Springdale Family Literacy Program (SFLP) to create programs designed to encourage adult English language learners to practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing English while learning about American history and culture through exploration of artworks at the museum. Classes from 16 SFLP schools, composed of adult English language learners with children enrolled in Springdale Public Schools, participate in sessions throughout the fall and spring semesters. Each session features a gallery discussion as well as an opportunity for participants to create their own work of art inspired by the session’s theme.

Art & English

Art & English is a monthly evening literacy program open to any adult English language learner interested in practicing conversational English skills. Each session is themed and features a gallery discussion in which participants are encouraged to share their thoughts and opinions about works of art. Children of participants are invited to join the gallery discussion or make an art project with a museum instructor in the studios during the program.