2009 SESSION: June 15–July 24

The Summer Institute in Art Museum Studies at Smith College helps you understand how your academic study of art history and related fields might translate into an exciting career in the arts. For those considering museum careers, the program offers opportunities to meet representatives of leading specialized training programs, a workshop on résumé preparation and interview strategies, information on internships, and hands-on exposure to the day-to-day work of museum professionals.

Even if you are not considering a career in museums, it is important as a citizen to understand these complex institutions that have been charged with safeguarding the artistic heritage of mankind. Striving to find the proper balance between preservation and access, broad-based education of the public and specialist scholarship that advances the field, museums are also being looked to today as catalysts for the economic revival of cities and as patrons of notable architecture. Some have been criticized for creeping commercialism, for offering “edutainment” rather than enlightenment, for abetting the illicit traffic in stolen goods or displaying works that affront cultural values. The issues facing art museums have changed over time, as these institutions and the civilization around them have evolved. They provide a fascinating window onto the wider world in which we live.

>> VIDEO: see SIAMS students talk about the program