Next week will be my final week as an “intern” at the UNT
Art Galleries. Although I will still be working on my regular duties as Manager
of Programming here, I will not be focusing my time on Art Path details. Over
the past three months I have researched, and sometimes re-researched, artworks
and artists, expanded my familiarity with the UNT campus, and learned just
about everything there is to know about UNT’s mascot, traditions, and history
(there is an entire section included in the brochure highlighting eagle
artworks and all things UNT).
While
conducting my research, I found that my old research (from way back in 2010
when I was a baby-child undergraduate J
) was actually pretty strong. I was able to pull from that information when
writing about the artists and artworks included in the original brochure. It
ended up saving me a lot of time and allowed me to search for more detailed
information elsewhere. While writing the copy for the brochure and some of the
signage, I found that it was best to think about the information that visitors
would want five, even ten, years from now. For signage, I found it easiest to
focus on factual information about the artists and the works themselves,
whereas for the brochure, I felt there was a little more wiggle room to add in
interpretive aspects that would guide visitors to ask questions and spend a
little more time with the pieces. I felt as though visitors using the brochure
were looking for more of a guided tour where the text served as a stand in for
docents.
What I
enjoyed most about my time as an intern was getting to use concepts we have
discussed in class outside of a conventional museum education setting. I think
this opportunity has highlighted the fact that museum educators do more than
programming and tours. Of course, we all already knew this, but I think as time
moves forward we will continue to see new and different ways educators are
using their skills.
I have really enjoyed reading and hearing about everyone’s
experiences this summer. It makes me especially excited to know that we are all
part of the next generation of museum educators! I know that I have already
started a list of various collaborations I’d like to make happen sometime in
the future. Congrats on a great summer, everyone!
-Katy
Ha ha! A baby-child undergraduate - that is an adorable term, Katy :) And, how heartening to know that your research skills have been rock-solid even since your early days :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great enthusiasm in closing out the summer, Katy! I concur that it is terribly exciting to know that you are all going to be working together as the next generation of museum educators... we are in good hands! :)
Katy, sounds like you had great experiences and big opportunity to execute your research in UNT Art Galleries!
ReplyDeleteI think that sometimes smaller institutions can give big opportunities:) I felt the same while being at GDAC. Also, I remember one of your future goals is to be responsible about docents so I am happy that you got to build such a broad and long term guides!