Date of Award
8-31-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS)
Department
Liberal Studies
First Advisor
Alison Barnes
Second Advisor
Lois Hetland
Abstract
Campus museums are uniquely positioned to enhance student learning and support faculty in achieving course objectives. By tapping the potential of objects, exhibition themes, and the gallery environment, museum professionals can empower faculty and students to make meaningful and relevant connections to curriculum content. Inspired by the successes in such endeavors of revered teaching museums at elite liberal arts colleges, but frustrated by the challenges of transferring model practices to the context of an art college, I set out to investigate what was possible at my own place of employment, the nation's only publicly funded art college, Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Applying to the gallery context several theoretical frameworks that detail how art students engage in thinking and learning, I was able to investigate the potentially rich relationship between art exhibitions and studio and scholarly classes and begin to uncover and describe ways of cultivating supportive relationships with faculty and students at an art college.
Recommended Citation
Clark, India N., "Supporting Artists in the Gallery: The Role of the Museum Educator at an Art College" (2011). MALS Final Projects, 1995-2019. 76.
https://creativematter.skidmore.edu/mals_stu_schol/76