RAM on the Road: Meeting Students Where They Are

RAM on the Road was made possible through the vision and leadership of longtime community leader and RAM Board member Jay Price Ruffo (1928–2012). During her nearly 25 years of service to the museum, Jay was a steadfast advocate for expanding access to the arts beyond museum walls. She led a successful silent Board campaign to secure the funding needed to launch the program, ensuring that RAM’s educational mission could reach students where they are. Her commitment helped transform RAM on the Road from an idea into a sustained, community-based outreach initiative that continues to serve thousands of students each year. That founding support made it possible to launch a mobile model of engagement that continues to define the program today.

Delivered via a colorfully outfitted mobile studio, RAM on the Road transports professional artists, educators, and supplies directly into schools and community spaces. The program was created to deliver free, hands-on art experiences to both public and private schools, with projects tied directly to RAM exhibitions and often using media not typically included in school curricula. Each visit incorporates multimedia images and sample artworks from the museum’s collection, effectively “bringing the museum” to students. While there are other arts providers in the region, RAM is the only organization offering this type of mobile museum-based programming free of charge to schools.

This model is both practical and essential. In the Racine Unified School District, more than 63% of the 17,862 students enrolled are identified as economically disadvantaged—circumstances that can significantly limit access to fee-based arts programming outside of school. By removing financial and logistical barriers, RAM on the Road ensures that all students can participate in meaningful, hands-on creative experiences, regardless of background or circumstance.

At the core of the program are engagement-focused activities that emphasize creativity as a form of communication and personal expression. Students participate in hands-on projects inspired by contemporary craft and visual art, working in a range of media such as ceramics, fiber, mixed media, and design-based practices. These sessions are supported by visual presentations, sample artworks, and artist-led demonstrations that deepen understanding while sparking curiosity.

Beyond individual projects, RAM on the Road fosters collaboration through community-based artmaking. Students often contribute to larger collective works—installations or murals composed of individual components that come together as a unified whole. These projects may be installed in schools, local businesses, or community spaces, reinforcing shared accomplishment and public visibility for student creativity.

The program’s impact extends well beyond a single classroom visit. RAM has consistently observed that students who engage with art through RAM on the Road are more likely to pursue additional creative opportunities. Many also encourage their families to participate in museum programs, studio classes, and free community events, extending the reach of engagement beyond the classroom. In this way, the program serves both as an introduction to artistic practice and as a pathway toward sustained cultural participation.

Since 2015, the Racine Unified School District has made participation in the program a standard part of the second-grade experience, ensuring that thousands of students each year are introduced to the museum through direct, hands-on learning. This district-wide commitment reflects a shared recognition of arts education as a core component of equitable student development.

RAM on the Road also strengthens interdisciplinary learning, with projects often aligned with classroom curriculum in language arts, history, and science. Artist-educators guide students in both technique and interpretation, helping them understand art as a tool for thinking, storytelling, and making sense of the world. Today, the program continues to extend the museum’s mission into classrooms and community spaces across the region, reflecting a sustained investment in access, creativity, and equity—ensuring that art is not an occasional experience, but a consistent presence in students’ lives.

With continued support from donors and partners, RAM on the Road will expand its reach and deepen its impact, carrying forward the vision that launched it and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of art.