Educational Opportunities & Research -- Dec Arts, Furniture, Architecture, & Material Culture

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

Hi all,

 

Please do let me know if there is a more appropriate location on GradCafe for this question. Currently, I am an employee in a museum, who gets regular opportunities to study my direct field of interest: decorative arts and American furniture. I absolutely cherish this. However, I'd like to go further than my current museum position (which also has me doing non-research tasks), and fully conduct research instead. So, it is my plan to apply this autumn for MA (and possibly) PhD programs. I couldn't imagine a more appropriate place for my abilities.

 

Ranging from one to two weeks long, I have discovered recently that there are a couple of educational institutes for my field of study, where I could pick up highly useful information. The two programs that I am interested in, in particular, not only offer me opportunities to visit a number of museums to see their collections, some behind-the-scenes (i.e. potential research topics), but also they involve several lectures by current and emerita faculty, from well-regarded universities (i.e. academics from whom I can obtain scholarly insights in my field).

 

For one of the two programs, I have applied and received a scholarship to attend. By some miracle, I managed a way to get the rest paid for, so I will be participating. The other institute is several months away; I am currently looking into grant funding. (I do hope that I can secure funding, as this is a program hosted at a fantastic museum, of which has a close, and active relationship, with a neighboring, high research output university.) In any regard, it is a multi-week program, offering me thorough exposure to my academic interests. The program should challenge me intellectually, as well as teach me things that are critical to my field of study.

 

As someone who is attempting to traverse from being a professional worker in the quasi-academic world of museums, into an accomplished, scholarly researcher for graduate school (and post-graduate life), I am wondering how to make the absolute most out of the these learning experiences. So, I am particularly curious to know:

 

1.) during the program -- how to demonstrate my sincere, and sustainable interest in the field, as well as my research capabilities,

 

and

 

2.) during the program -- how to network well at the receptions, and the in-between times, to support my primary goal of studying American furniture and decorative arts further in grad school

 

I ask this because one of the programs has a number of receptions (with authors, institute alumni, academic faculty, museum curators, etc), as well as field trips to area museums; and the other institute has the opportunity for me to pursue personal research. As conducting independent research is a terrific opportunity to demonstrate my abilities in research, it's important to plan ahead to make the most of the time that I have. (I also know that I will have to spend more time discovering what is available in their archives and collections, as well as what research has been done so far.) 

 

What else should I be thinking about to make the most of these educational programs?

 

So far, I am learning all that I can about each of the faculty participants, and the curators who are involved in the program(s). I have already started that process. In addition, as best as I am able (without immediate JSTOR access), I'm locating their scholarship from print journals at the museum where I work. I'm also looking up the museums where we'll be visiting. 

 

Finally, I am also thinking about: the thoughtful kinds of questions to ask, ways to demonstrate serious engagement/passion for the field, remembering to bring a pencil for the archives (haha - the details do not escape me as a museum professional), dressing artistic but sharp...

 

What else would you recommend for an emerging museum professional, who will be applying for graduate school during the fall, who is hopeful of making the absolute most out of the educational opportunities that are available?  

 

Thank you so much for your time.

 

AH&M

 

[fullofpink]

I'm unsure what programs you are participating in, but depending on what they are they could really range in terms of personal experience vs. professional experience vs. academic experience. 

 

However, I can offer simple instructions on how to present yourself: please be yourself.

 

While these are potential networking opportunities, I wouldn't go too far into the scholarship of people you will meet, instead I would concentrate on just a few choice things they have been doing (recent exhibitions, a recent article, etc.). Actually, I have found that most scholars are more interested in what *I* have been doing in terms of research or field-interest over what they have accomplished for themselves. In fact, most of the questions I answered to my host was about the program I was attending and what I hoped to do with the experience. Also, even moreso, most of my conversations were about gossip or light-hearted topics (like movies, actors, people we both know, etc.). 

 

Scholars aren't always talking about art all the time - of course it's a favorite topic and things will be discussed ("Have you seen that XXXX exhibition? I think it's crap!" "Well of course you know the XXXX chair, it's over in the Medici Collection"), but don't think that having an encyclopedic knowledge about their previous work or about art history  will win them over - if they like you as a person they are more willing to continue communication if that if what you are hoping for. 

 

I also found the scholarship that I was suppose to produce during these summer studies way below the requirements of what I had been doing in school and especially way below what I had been producing for research grants I had received as well. My work during these programs were seen more as exercises rather than serious. 

 

I would definitely be prepared to ask 2-3 thoughtful questions about whatever topic your tour guide or lecturer is discussing; however, I would really brush up on your small talk skills and learn how to speak politely of EVERYONE. I attended a similar program where I met the director of the Worcester museum and when he found out my host institution, he would not leave my side and wanted to know EVERYTHING about my director, our programming initiatives, our recent awards and upcoming exhibitions, and how awesome the director was in securing all of that - however, the director at the time was under intense scrutiny and had little to do with any of the above topics -- so, be prepared to put on your diplomat face! 

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

I'm unsure what programs you are participating in, but depending on what they are they could really range in terms of personal experience vs. professional experience vs. academic experience. 

 

However, I can offer simple instructions on how to present yourself: please be yourself.

 

While these are potential networking opportunities, I wouldn't go too far into the scholarship of people you will meet, instead I would concentrate on just a few choice things they have been doing (recent exhibitions, a recent article, etc.). Actually, I have found that most scholars are more interested in what *I* have been doing in terms of research or field-interest over what they have accomplished for themselves. In fact, most of the questions I answered to my host was about the program I was attending and what I hoped to do with the experience. Also, even moreso, most of my conversations were about gossip or light-hearted topics (like movies, actors, people we both know, etc.). 

 

Scholars aren't always talking about art all the time - of course it's a favorite topic and things will be discussed ("Have you seen that XXXX exhibition? I think it's crap!" "Well of course you know the XXXX chair, it's over in the Medici Collection"), but don't think that having an encyclopedic knowledge about their previous work or about art history  will win them over - if they like you as a person they are more willing to continue communication if that if what you are hoping for. 

 

I also found the scholarship that I was suppose to produce during these summer studies way below the requirements of what I had been doing in school and especially way below what I had been producing for research grants I had received as well. My work during these programs were seen more as exercises rather than serious. 

 

I would definitely be prepared to ask 2-3 thoughtful questions about whatever topic your tour guide or lecturer is discussing; however, I would really brush up on your small talk skills and learn how to speak politely of EVERYONE. I attended a similar program where I met the director of the Worcester museum and when he found out my host institution, he would not leave my side and wanted to know EVERYTHING about my director, our programming initiatives, our recent awards and upcoming exhibitions, and how awesome the director was in securing all of that - however, the director at the time was under intense scrutiny and had little to do with any of the above topics -- so, be prepared to put on your diplomat face! 

 

Thank you for your reply, fullofpink. Yes: "Be myself." This is a useful reminder for a young professional, who wishes deeply to impress. There is no reason to be an encyclopedia of facts: "Eero Saarinen did MIT's chapel" or "Queen Anne reigned from 1702-1714." Instead, I will relax, and be my best professional self. Yes, yes, yes.

 

As for the institutes:

For one program - if you pay for tuition (and the course is not full), you get in.

For the other program - you must apply and offer your academic background.

 

That may reveal something in regard to the rigor of the program. Fullofpink, I will PM you a link to the second program.

 

Yes, for the institute(s), I should have an elevator-style summary ready to give on the side research that I am conducting, as well as the exhibitions that I'm involved with at my museum. Speaking of my museum work, it is spectacular for one of the days in the first program, the program will be devoted fully to a subject that I am researching currently for my museum. As I am actively immersed in the topic, I will have more comfort there to ask questions of the lecturer(s), too.

 

Also, I appreciate the information that I should be prepared to speak about my museum. I see those questions being inevitable -- right now, my museum is going through a lot of changes, and I am certain to be asked all about it! In fact, I can see the questions now. :-)

 

I am definitely enthusiastic about my museum. All the same, putting on my diplomatic face is critical. Even if my museum is only helping me out by a tiny bit and merely offering me time off (not paying for my course fee), I am still representing them. 

 

Regarding the institute(s) being more about an exercise, than a serious scholarly activity, that's probably spot on. Thanks for piping up on that. I will have to think carefully if these experiences are worth discussing in my SOP(s), or elsewhere on my application. That said, top faculty from one of my grad schools that I am applying to will be part of the institutes. Also, I do want to show to my schools that I am invested in dec arts and willing to do what it takes to learn about the field. Thirdly, my undergrad is filled with courses in the fine arts. (I do not have any undergraduate courses in my current focus of early American furniture, nor in general on the decorative arts.) In any event, I see that neither program are absolutely scholarly. However, both are a good starting step in my particular field. Finally, I would like to state again that I am a young museum employee, who is doing all that I can to make a bridge into studying objects in a scholarly way. While these program may not be rigorous for an art historian or for current graduate student, but for now, they are helpful for me.

 

Finally, your comments on being friendly, and making small talk during the institute. Yes! Definitely! As an introvert and as someone who doesn't know any of the participants (only what they have published), I will be thinking a lot more about this, and how I can be, (and be viewed as), an engaged, intelligent, and pleasant participant.

 

In all, this has been very helpful to me, Fullofpink. Thank you for your time.

 

 

**

 

// Re-posted to clean up confusing sentence structure.

Edited June 6, 2013 by ArtHistoryandMuseum