The Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art has received a $1,500 Bank of America Foundation Grant to help support its artist-in-residence program.

Each school year, the institute places an artist in a local school to teach pupils about art. About 180 fourth- and fifth-graders at Glenn Hills Elementary School will participate in the program this year.

"This grant is pretty significant," said Dorothy Eckmann, the education director. "When you are talking about that many students, it means that we have to have enough for supplies for each of them, which can be expensive. This grant will allow us to provide better supplies for the students and offer a broader range of art activities."

During the program, pupils learn about various art techniques, including drawing, painting, three-dimensional art and mixed media. There is also a focus on cross-curriculum activities that integrate art concepts with math, science, social studies and literature.

"Every year we also bring the students to Gertrude to see their artwork professionally hung in the student gallery," Ms. Eckmann said. "We also give them a tour of Ware's Folly, and they participate in an activity based on the building and its history."

Ware's Folly, at the corner of Fifth and Telfair streets, houses the Gertrude Herbert Institute.

Pupils from Hornsby Elementary School, C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School and Jenkins-White Elementary Charter School have participated in the program.

"This is our way to reach out into the community and expose children to art," Ms. Eckmann said. "It's an important part of our mission."