Louisa Flannery, education director of the Bermuda National Gallery, had a question and answer interview with the Royal Gazette's Beverley Causey-Smith.

Will you explain your role and tell us what you do? Answer: "My role at the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) is education director.

I am in charge of all the education opportunities made available at the gallery. For example, I train the docents or tour guides in each exhibition and teach them how to tour different age groups.

I liaise with schools to help teachers maximise the educational content in each exhibition. Obviously "A Window on the Azores'' is an excellent show for educational purposes and to do cross curricula teaching.'' How have you been involved with the Azorean Exhibition? With "A Window on the Azores'' exhibition a new initiative was begun with schools that will become a main stay of the BNG education offerings. The initiative was the "Art Reach'' programme.

It was created to be continuous and consistent contact with schools and teachers to provide information and curriculum connections to the exhibitions that BNG offers.

The Resource for Teachers Booklet is the first ever education document produced for the `Art Reach' initiative and will not be the last. Each teaching resource will probably not be as extensive as this but teachers will have something.

I am also in charge of special events for families and students and Art camps for school breaks.'' How did you begin at The National Gallery? Answer: "I started at the BNG helping with education in October of 1998 on a very part time basis and I started full time in July 1999.'' Do you have any special qualifications? Answer: "I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters of Art in Teaching from the Rhode Island School of Design. In my masters programme I did a course in museum education and had art teaching experience from ages Kindergarten through grade 12.'' About how many school children have viewed the exhibit so far? Answer: "About 34 school groups have been to the exhibition so far, and some fours are booked through to the end of November. Schools can call and book a tour any day from now until the second week of February.'' What age is the best to begin art education with children? Answer: "The BNG Education Department is currently focusing on primary 6 in our "Art Reach'' initiative (not to the exclusion of other age groups of course). This age group, about age 10 to 11) is a great starting place for exploring the world of art, particularly talking about art and individual opinions and imagination. This age group is also great because they are old enough to appreciate more complex ideas but have not generally shut down to `new' ideas.'' Do you have a special message for school teachers concerning this exhibit? Answer: "A message to teachers: Look to the BNG as a resource for education.

The gallery will continue to create and maximise learning opportunities.

"A Window on the Azores'' exhibition offers an incredible range of teaching possibilities to all age groups and can be a wonderful springboard into cross curricula study. Teachers can contact Louisa Flannery at the Gallery for more information and to book a tour.'' Ms Flannery may be contacted by phone at 295-9428 or fax at 295-2055.

Ms Louisa Flannery Art appeal: Gilbert P-6 students view Portuguese sculpture. Kendra Faries and Tyler Smith ages 10.