One important goal of art education is to prepare students for lifelong joy and meaning derived from repeated experiences with the arts. The confidence and inclination to view and interpret artworks can be encouraged through substantive classroom experiences in which students learn perceptual and interpretive skills. Art educators also can assist students in discovering where and how they might continue to engage with artworks as they emerge from formal schooling. A museum field trip partially addresses this goal in many art programs. This book considers the museum as a viable resource for art teachers who take seriously the hope that students will continue their engagement with art well into adulthood. The book provides an overview of the history of museums, information about their common structure and mission, and numerous examples of programs in which students are engaged in substantive ways. For art teachers who are involved in planning museum field trips, it provides practical guidance in designing meaningful visits. The book is filled with teaching tips, resources, and suggestions for other possible venues, such as local history museums and the Internet, for extending and enriching the study of art. Chapters in the book are: (1) "The Art Museum as a Resource"; (2) "Museum Field Trips"; (3) "Bringing the Museum to the Classroom"; (4) "Working with Museum Educators"; (5) "The Internet as a Museum Education Resource"; (6) "The History Museum and the Art Curriculum"; and (7) "Promoting the Art Museum." Appended are worksheets, checklists, and lists of books related to art museums. (BT)