"Every child begins the world again."

Rooted in constructivist and experiential learning theory, the Spiral Studio Method is how The Children’s Gallery Chicago makes meaning with and for youth. 

Inspired by thinkers such as Paulo Freire, Paris and Alim’s Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, and bell hooks, who saw education as liberation and dialogue as essential, we engage young people not as passive recipients of knowledge but as artists, organizers, and truth-tellers. This method centers inquiry, collective action, community voice, and dialogue as the foundation for creative and social transformation, while honoring the lived experiences and identities of young people.

From the Reggio Emilia approach, inspired by Loris Malaguzzi, we borrow a deep respect for children as capable, curious, and full of potential. Art becomes a shared language — one of many ways young people express understanding, explore identity, and communicate with the world.

Our methodology also draws from Design Thinking in Education—particularly Stanford’s d.school and IDEO—engaging youth in iterative, collaborative processes that emphasize empathy, experimentation, and creative problem-solving. These practices naturally support social-emotional learning, helping young people build resilience, self-awareness, and meaningful connections with others. At the structural level, the method spirals outward from Jerome Bruner’s Spiral Curriculum, returning to core ideas again and again with increasing complexity and personal relevance. This spiraling structure mirrors the creative process itself: nonlinear, layered, and evolving.

Finally, we ground our practice in the liberatory teachings of bell hooks, who reminds us that education can be an act of love, dialogue, and freedom. In our studios, we engage young people not as passive recipients of knowledge, but as artists, storytellers, and meaning-makers. This model honors inquiry, choice, and reflection as the cornerstones of creative learning, while nurturing critical thinking skills and strengthening literacy.