Sarah Alvarez


About Sarah Alvarez

Sarah Alvarez is the Senior Fellow in Public Art History at Smarthistory. She was previously the Director of School Programs in the Department of Learning and Public Engagement at the Art Institute of Chicago. In this role, Sarah oversaw professional development programs and curriculum resources for teachers, school partnership programs, museum-based experiences for K-12 students, and the Art Institute's docent program. Sarah actively engages in city-wide dialogue about quality arts education experiences for students and has published numerous articles about museum learning. She holds a B.A. in Art History from Skidmore College and an M.A. in Art History from Rutgers University.


In the Progressive Era of the early 20th century, Progressives responded to political corruption, economic instability, and social concerns by calling for greater government action and other political and social measures.
APUSH: KC - 7.1.II

Teaching guide
The City Beautiful Movement


Detail, Romare Bearden, Three Folk Musicians, 1967, collage of various papers with paint and graphite on canvas, 50 x 60 x 1 ½ inches (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts)
During and after World War II, civil rights activists and leaders, most notably Martin Luther King Jr., combated racial discrimination utilizing a vareity of strategies, including legal challenges, direct action, and nonviolent protest tactics.
APUSH KC - 8.2.1.A

Teaching guide
Spiral: Black Art and the Civil ...