Every fall, the University’s art history department partners with the Fralin Museum of Art to offer a unique experience called the University Museums Internship. This program invites 10 to 13 students each year, providing them a chance to dive deep into the world of art.
The course operates like a seminar, meeting every other week and pairing classroom discussions with real-world internships in various departments. Students engage with the curatorial, education, development, and marketing teams at the Fralin Museum, as well as opportunities at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection and beyond.
This program, established in 2011, fills an important gap. Smaller museums like the Fralin and Kluge-Ruhe may not have the resources for paid internships. The program allows students to earn course credit while giving museums much-needed support.
A highlight of the year is a student-curated exhibition that takes shape throughout the academic year. Since 2014, when M. Jordan Love became the academic curator, the class has embraced the year-long format. Love noted, “It takes a full semester to plan an exhibition and another to install it. It’s a chance for students that many don’t get elsewhere.”
This year’s exhibit, titled “Printed Stories: Tales in Black & White,” showcases storytelling through printmaking. It features works from the University’s collection and pieces donated by Dr. Janet D. Greenwood, former president of Longwood University, who valued student engagement with art. Included in her donation are works by notable artists like Pablo Picasso and Rembrandt.
“Greenwood was excited to have her works used right away,” Love said. This year marked only the second time students worked with borrowed pieces outside the museum’s permanent collection, making it a special opportunity. Sarah Dowling, a fourth-year student and curatorial intern, reflected, “Working with such famous artworks is unexpected for an undergraduate. It’s thrilling.”
This year, instead of selecting themes from an online catalogue, students started with the Greenwood collection to discover connections with existing pieces. They worked collaboratively, discussing and voting on what should be included in the final show. This approach fostered teamwork and a sense of ownership over the exhibit.
As the team refined their selections, they consulted a professional curator to address practical concerns, like repairs or space requirements. Dowling emphasized how this experience provided valuable insights into the logistical aspects of curating an exhibit.
The final show is divided into three sections: Biblical, Mythological, and Quotidian. Each section highlights stories captured in the artworks, ranging from biblical narratives to everyday life scenes. Love pointed out that the students created the exhibition independently, a rare opportunity for undergraduates. “If they’re passionate about an object, we want to make that happen,” she said.
Students were not just curators; they took on various roles, from crafting wall labels to planning the exhibit layout. Dowling noted, “Label writing is a tough but rewarding process. We aimed to inform visitors while staying approachable.” Their collaborative effort extended to creating an introductory wall text that shapes the viewer’s understanding of the show.
Workshops and guest speakers throughout the semester enriched the students’ experiences, exposing them to the multifaceted nature of museum work. Dowling’s internship at Kluge-Ruhe allowed her to delve into historical art research while contributing to the museum’s broader exhibitions.
“The internship was a big reason I joined this program,” she said. “I learned how different teams collaborate to create exhibits. It opened my eyes to various paths I could pursue in the future.”
The student-curated exhibit will be on display at the Fralin until May 31. For more information on the University Museums Internship, visit the program’s website.
