Randolph College Resources
Student Opportunities
The Maier Museum of Art functions as an extension of the classroom. Faculty across Randolph’s liberal arts curriculum regularly conduct class discussions and activities in the galleries, and utilize the Collection to develop assignments that support and expand course content.
The Maier Museum provides an invaluable resource for the department of art and art history as well as the museum and heritage studies program. In addition to having direct experience with original works of art from the museum’s outstanding collection of American Art, students engage with contemporary artists and scholars who visit campus each semester to offer artist talks, lectures, and participate in The Helen Clark Berlind Symposium. The senior capstone program culminates in exhibitions and presentations by studio art, art history, and museum and heritage studies majors.
MUSEUM AND HERITAGE STUDIES PROGRAM
Museum & Heritage Studies Major
The museum and heritage studies major is a unique, interdisciplinary pre-professional program based on hands-on experiential learning and direct work with collections where students develop practical skills through access to resources such as Randolph College’s world-class Maier Museum of Art and the College’s natural history, archaeology, and ancient collections.
Students learn fresh perspectives about the role of museums and public history sites, and graduates emerge equipped with the knowledge and experience for careers in interpreting and presenting visual and material culture.
Majors are required to complete at least two internships. The Center for Career Development connects students to an impressive range of internships and fieldwork with professional organizations in the US and abroad, giving students access to exceptional resources for research and career exploration. Students take advantage of architectural preservation institutes, archaeological field schools, public history internships, curatorial and museum education internships, both around the country and in local archives, collections, and museums, such as Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.
The museum and heritage studies program culminates in a senior capstone exhibition broadly defined, designed, and executed by each major.
Museum Studies Minor
The museum studies minor provides students with an understanding of the role of museums in society and the range of career possibilities within the museum field. The collection and staff of the Maier Museum of Art are integral to the program with students working directly with art objects and learning from professionals. Recent practicums have introduced students to exhibition development and installation, curatorial research, professional registration practices, and the theory and practice of museum education.
INTERNSHIPS
The Maier Museum of Art offers internships to Randolph College students that encourage students to consider museum careers by providing opportunities to learn about museum operations. Students work on meaningful projects under the guidance of experienced professionals and develop relationships with individuals who can advise and support interns as they pursue educational goals and career plans. Read blog posts by the Maier Museum’s previous interns at: Internship Experiences at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College >
For-Credit Internship Opportunities >>
The Maier Museum of Art now offers an ongoing for-credit internship during the academic year focused on Museum Marketing. Randolph College students earn .5 Credit per Session (3 hours per week.) The goal of this internship is to increase engagement on the Maier Museum of Art social media platforms and create awareness of the museum’s initiatives and programs as well as promoting the museum and heritage studies program. This internship would allow a student to gain experience in social media marketing, community outreach, and graphic design.
Summer Internship Opportunities >>
Each year, Randolph College students are selected for 10-week (25 hours/week) paid, summer internships to be completed at the Maier Museum of Art for a stipend of $2,500 each. This opportunity is extended to all rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled at Randolph College and is funded by Maier Memberships at the Benefactor level.
In addition, additional experiential learning in arts management, historic preservation, museum education, and art conservation are developed through Randolph College’s and the Maier Museum’s relationship with local and national institutions.
WORK-STUDY
The Maier Museum of Art offers work-study positions for Randolph College students during the academic year. Work-study assistants help the Maier staff with various museum projects and office assignments as needed. They are also assist with programs and events on nights/weekends and/or fill front desk receptionist shifts on weekends. Projects work-study assistants may works on include preparing materials for educational programs, marketing tasks, posting flyers on campus, and working with the museum’s files and Collection, researching artwork/artists, and writing wall labels.
Work-study assistants must have strong research, writing, and computer skills. While preference is given to students majoring in museum and heritage studies, art history, studio art, history, or education, students from all majors are encouraged to apply for the positions when they are available.
Pay is $12/hour and the work schedule is typically four hours/week.
FRAME
Future Restorationists, Artists, and Museum Enthusiasts (FRAME) is a Randolph College student club advised by the Maier Museum’s curator of education. FRAME members are student ambassadors for the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College. Through club activities, FRAME students broaden their knowledge of art and explore careers with museums.
FRAME members develop and facilitate participatory art experiences that connect with the artists, artwork, and/or themes present in the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.
In addition, FRAME members periodically lead tours and gallery discussions and provide art activities for local community after-school programs. Love at the Maier, an annual celebration of art and artists inspired by Valentine’s Day, is facilitated by FRAME members. This two-day program in February is a community-wide favorite.
FRAME also frequents local art openings and cultural events and has recently begun an initiative to develop a student-run gallery space.
While many of the members are art or museum and heritage studies majors, others are not. FRAME gives all students who love art and museums the opportunity to be involved at the Maier Museum without the academic commitment of a major.
HELEN OWEN CALVERT AWARD
The Helen Owen Calvert Award is held every spring semester and recognizes excellence in writing that responds to or interprets works of art in the Maier Museum of Art collection. Each year, Randolph students are invited to submit creative or academic compositions of any type to be considered for this award. The award was established in memory of Helen Owen Calvert, by her family. Mrs. Calvert was a graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and the mother of one of the Maier Museum’s former curators of education, Doni Guggenheimer. Learn more >
Faculty Resources
The Curator of Education works one-on-one with faculty to design tours of the permanent collection, special exhibitions, or works in storage currently not on view. Tours of works of art displayed across the Randolph College campus buildings can also be developed. In addition, activities and research opportunities that complement course curricula can be developed in collaboration with the Maier. Schedule a tour >>
The Maier Museum of Art is not just for Randolph College faculty and students! Our collection is also available for faculty from neighboring institutions to utilize as an extension of the classroom.
More ways to utilize the Maier Museum of Art >>
To discuss the possibilities for your classes or research, contact:
Curator of Education
Laura McManus
lmcmanus@randolphcollege.edu
(434) 947-8136, ext. 5
Campus Loan Program for Faculty and Staff
- At least five business days are required for processing and scheduling requests.
- Some works may require additional time for framing and matting or may not be available or suitable for display.
- Requests will not be completed during the two weeks before an exhibition opening or for two weeks after the closing of an exhibition. Current exhibition dates >>
- Once installed, artwork must remain in place for at least one year.
If artwork needs to be moved immediately due to potential damage, to report artwork damage, or if you have questions about the Campus Art Loan Program, please contact:
Maier Museum of Art Registrar
Debbie Spanich
dspanich@randolphcollege.edu
Campus ext. 4265