Academic Engagement

college students looking at paintings college students looking at paintings
“The Lowe is not just an art museum. It is a center for learning and engagement.” – Jill Deupi, J.D., Ph.D., Beaux Arts Director and Chief Curator 
students looking at a case of native american art consisting of small wooden carved sculptures and ceramic pots students looking at a case of native american art consisting of small wooden carved sculptures and ceramic pots
“The Lowe is an inspiring resource for faculty and students from all academic disciplines.” – Christina Larson, Ph.D., Andrew W. Mellon Fellow for Academic Engagement.
student using a digital camera in an art gallery for 3D documentation student using a digital camera in an art gallery for 3D documentation
student talking to seated students in the middle of an art gallery student talking to seated students in the middle of an art gallery
three woman looking at glass art in an art gallery. Glass objects are vase like three woman looking at glass art in an art gallery. Glass objects are vase like
2 people in an art gallery looking at an archival book 2 people in a gallery looking at an archival book
image of college students being spoken to in a gallery of African Art image of college students being spoken to in a gallery of African Art

The Lowe is a laboratory for learning; a place for engagement and enrichment; and a site for self-discovery. College faculty and students are invited to use the Lowe's collection and exhibitions in creative ways to complement course topics and learning objectives. The Lowe's museum educators collaborate with faculty to provide active, object-based learning experiences for students from all disciplines.

Quick Access

  • Click here for the “Learning with the Lowe: Guide for Faculty.”
  • Click here to make a tour request.
  • Click here to request use of onsite classroom or case exhibit.
  • To discuss engagement options, to schedule plans, or to ask questions about the Lowe’s online collection database, contact: educationlowe@miami.edu  

Program Highlights

Giving Voice: original monologues inspired by visual art | University of Miami Dept. of Theatre Arts

Dr. Dorothy Hindman: COMPOSING THE COLLECTION
Sonifying Instruments, Art Works, and Artifacts from the Lowe Art Museum in New
Compositions and Live Performance.

In Composing the Collection, Frost School of Music composition students advanced their technique, personal aesthetic, and professional skills by creating new music based on objects from the Lowe’s Musical Instruments and Art Works Collections.

 

Benefits of Engaging with Art

  • Nurtures an appreciation for cultural differences. 
  • Enhances observation skills. 
  • Cultivates focused attention through slow looking. 
  • Fosters communication skills and teamwork. 
  • Promotes dialogue and collaboration among students. 
  • Encourages creative problem solving. 
  • Creates respect for different points of view. 
  • Builds connections between the academic course and material culture. 
  • Increases students’ self-awareness as learners. 

Object-based Learning 

  • Object-based learning methodologies are central to how the Lowe engages with faculty and college students. Please see this overview on object-based learning developed at the University of Miami.  

ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT FOR FACULTY:

We invite you to consider how engaging with the Lowe can help you achieve your teaching and learning goals.

ArtLab @ the Lowe

  • During the Spring semester, the Lowe partners with a University of Miami faculty member and their students to curate an exhibition as part of the annual ArtLab @the Lowe. Students select a theme for their exhibition and choose objects to research from collections at the Lowe, Special Collections, the Cuban Heritage Collection, or University Archives. This hands-on opportunity teaches students how to curate a museum show from start to finish. 
  • Click here to view a past example.

Curriculum-based Museum Visit or Digital Enagement

The Lowe is available for in-person Curriculum-based Museum Visits for faculty and students or virtual remote engagement. This type of academic engagement will involve the following process: 

  • Planning meeting with a colleague from the Lowe’s Education Department to discuss your course and to identify your objectives for the museum visit. 
  • Pre-visit virtual introduction to familiarize faculty and students with the Lowe, the objectives of the visit, and protocols for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • Development of assignment with Lowe staff and faculty to aid student learning.
  • Museum Visit that is tailored to your course topics and learning objectives or Guided virtual interactive discussions using works of art from the Lowe's permanent collection or exhibitions that connect with course curricula, themes, or topics.
  • Collections-based assignments to be completed by students either online or in-person at the Lowe. We encourage faculty to use the Lowe’s permanent collection and exhibitions for class assignments before, during, or after your museum engagement. We can work with you in developing these curriculum-based assignments for your students.
  • Post-visit virtual de-brief to synthesize experiences from the visit, how the visit related to course content, and feedback from faculty and students.
  • Online intro co-facilitated with  Lowe Education Department.
  • Self-guided visit with assignment.
  • 2 weeks advance notice.   

Student Museum Visit

  • Self-guided.
  • 2 weeks advance notice.

CREATE  (Cultural Resources | Engagement | Academics | Technology | Enrichment) 

  • Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, CREATE Grants supported faculty projects that enhanced learning and engagement at the University of Miami and featured its cultural resources. Awards made under this program were intended to promote the integration of artworks, artifacts, and archival materials in the University of Miami's Libraries and Lowe Art Museum's permanent collections into object-based teaching, learning, and scholarship. To view past projects, please go to the CREATE  website. 

Research 

We are happy to provide access to images from the Lowe’s collection for research purposes. We can also meet with you to discuss your research interests. 

ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS:

The Lowe Art Museum encourages students to engage with its collection, exhibitions, and programs.

For more information about the Lowe’s online collection, research recommendations, or becoming involved please contact: educationlowe@miami.edu 

Internship Opportunities

Click here for Fall 2023 Internship flyer 

The Lowe Art Museum Internship Program provides students with opportunities to gain knowledge, skills, and professional experience for careers in museums and other cultural organizations. We offer a variety of internships per semester. The time commitment is on average 10-15 hours per week, totaling 120 hours for the semester.

Interns earn college credit for their work at the Lowe through two pathways:

  • Earn 3 credit hours towards your degree by signing up for a relevant course. Please check with your department for specific requirements.
  • Earn 1 credit hour (not towards your degree) through the UM Toppel Career Center program.

How To Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume or CV to tolaporter@miami.edu

Areas of Focus:

  • Curatorial Department: Curatorial Department Interns will work on a variety of research-based projects including collating research on collection artists, exhibition histories, and past exhibition didactics and catalogues. The intern will also help to provide access to digital archival collections by creating ­nding aids to assist online researchers.
  • Collections and Exhibitions: Collections and Exhibitions Interns will work on a variety of projects which might include research assignments, material  gathering,  database  entry,  document  drafting  and  preparation,  and  rights  and  reproductions  assignments,  among other tasks as needed.
  • Museum Education: Museum Education Interns will learn about museum education methodologies and work on projects such as planning and facilitating Community Days and Family Workshops; researching artworks in the collection; assisting with public programs; conducting program evaluations; analyzing survey data; and working on academic engagement initiatives.
  • Marketing and Communications: Marketing and Communications Interns will work  on  projects  such  as  social  media  research,  management,  and  analysis;  editorial  tasks;  the  preparation  of  documents  and  other  materials;  event  documentation; or graphic design tasks.

Research

We are happy to provide access to images from the Lowe’s collection for research purposes. We can also meet with you to discuss your research interests. 

Exhibitions and Public Programs 

  • The Lowe organizes exhibitions and public programs throughout the year. Please consult the Lowe’s website, Instagram, and or Facebook page for additional information. You may also register for the Lowe’s mailing list by clicking here.