About us

Abigail Housen and Philip Yenawine developed Visual Thinking Strategies in the late 1980’s. Today, VTS is a well-known program used in museums both locally and internationally, as well as in schools, colleges and universities. The founders of VTS incorporated Visual Understanding in Education as a non-profit organization in 1996 with a mission to broaden the use of VTS, deepen our research, and increase the understanding of Aesthetic Development.

Today, VTS is one of the most significant art education and critical thinking programs with a national presence. We are a small staff with an active national volunteer board, along with regional VTS boards which support teams of trainers and consultants through out the country and the world.

VTS educators meet regularly through the VTS Partner Network. This network consists of museums and educational leaders that use VTS as part of their museum or school programs.

The work of VTS could not have been accomplished without our philanthropic partners who have generously supported the work of VTS over the last 16 years. Their gifts have sustained the program in their immediate local communities or through the work of the national office.