Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
Harn Contact
Website
Phone Number
My Mentor
Elizabeth King
Within my internship, I shadow Elizabeth King, Gallery Interpretation and Public Programs Manager at the Harn. Her responsibilities range greatly, where she both manages docent and new docent trainings, she also is responsible for many public programs, such as Art for Life, Museum Nights events led by MUSE volunteers, and Harn Museum of Dance.
Much of her work centers on researching many of the pieces within the museum, finding ways to elaborate on the themes of the work and create teaching modules and self-led guides. Much of what I do is to help her research and create these modules, based on her direction.
Hands-on Experience
Docent Training
By shadowing Elizabeth King, who single-handedly runs the docent meetings and trainings, I too aid in running these meetings. This not only includes noting the concerns and complaints of docents, but also through taking notes throughout the meetings (some examples can be found "Note Taking" portion of the Projects section of this page)
Art Research
A large part of my work is in creating aids for our docents filled with information about our featured art and artists for them to share during their tours. This includes creating exhibit checklists, object forms and artist information documents (examples of which is in the "Research" portion of the Projects section of this page).
Management
I have been made responsible to manage parts of the museum independently as part of this internship, from interactive learning centers to live events. This includes running activities during Family Day and sections of our Harn Museum of Dance and Museum Nights events.
Promotional Design
Our museum runs a member program, created to encourage interaction between consistent visitors and our staff and pieces. To do this, I aid in creating promotional flyers to sponsor our talks and events- such as member parties- that are sent regularly by email.
Projects
Outreach Spreadsheets
Part of my internship involves creating spreadsheets for student and organizational outreach. I currently have two examples of Excel spreadsheets that I have created to bring student donation or visitation to our lectures and gallery talks. *Contact information blacked out in respect for the privacy of the individuals*
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To see the full document please click on the image.
Research
My research is often used for modules or documents made to be shared with docents and self-led groups. Here I display my four most common forms of presenting my research, Docent Checklist, Art for Life teaching Module, Self-Led Activity, and an Interpreting Objects form. I often display my research in simple artist information documents- which usually focus on a biography, quotes, influences, facts, and a bibliography featuring interviews and websites that feature further information. Through these projects I have gotten much better at researching art and artists virtually from reliable sources.
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To see the full document please click on the image.
Promotional Design
This was a promotional design for one of our guest lectures on our "The World to Come" Exhibit. This, as well as the other designs, were sent out to Harn members, printed as posters, and sent to students who were in the classes or clubs featured in the "student outreach" Excel document pertaining to this topic.
Docent Meeting Notes
I've Included an example of the notes I took during one of the gallery tours during the new docent training, covering the Asian art wing of the museum. I also included additional facts and information in the footnotes of the document. This was used as the primary document for docents to reference for tour information in this wing. I often am responsible for taking notes and participating in docent exercises during the bi-monthly docent meetings and new docent trainings.
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To see the full document please click on the image.
