2. Program Base: Applied
Experiences with Museum Partners
Courses taught at the Figge Art Museum incorporate applied projects
in the museum setting.
This is a unique program that offers coursework through the
departments of Art, and Recreation, Parks, and Tourism
Administration, at Western Illinois University, working in conjunction with
museum professionals at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa.
The Figge (originally the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery) opened in
1925. Today, the collections have grown over ten-fold and include
more than 3,500 paintings, sculpture, and works on paper from the
16th century to the present. In 2005, the museum launched its next
phase of growth: relocation to the heart of downtown Davenport in
an 100,000 sq. ft. facility overlooking the Mississippi designed by
London architect David Chipperfield. The museum serves as a
dynamic laboratory for Museum Studies students.
Partnerships with the Putnam Museum, The Family Museum, the Rock
Island Arsenal Museum and others in the region for practicum and
internship experiences.
3. What Do Museum Partnerships
Look Like?
Course
Instruction
Taught by museum
professionals
Practicum/Internship
Experiences
Students are paired with
museum staff members
Recent
Field Trips
Kansas City
Chicago
Milwaukee
Workshops
Minneapolis
Des Moines
Detroit
4. Modeling and Mentoring
Practice
Students enrolled in
practicum, internship, and independent
study projects work one-on-one with
museum professionals on a variety of
museum initiatives.
Example projects include:
Curating, design, and installation of the Cell
Animation exhibition at the Putnam Museum
with Christina Kastell
Writing interpretive materials and developing
activities for Studio1, drop-in art making studio
at Figge Art Museum
Developing a Family Gallery Installation at the
Figge in the Museum Education class
Designing and leading interactive gallery
activities at the Family Museum
Conducting visitor studies for the Figge Art
Museum with staff collaboration
Digitizing the Grant Wood Archive at the Figge
with Andrew Wallace, registrar
Presenting at national and international
conferences
9. Academic Partners
The program is based in the College of
Fine Arts and Communication and the
Art Department
Graduate level art history courses
Study Abroad programs in
collaboration with museum studies
Collaboration across Colleges
New York City
Berlin
Zoos and Aquaria Certificate/Biology
Developing concentration area in
MBA
WIU-QC Recreation, Parks and Tourism
Administration teach core and
elective courses
Community development and tourism
Fundraising and volunteerism
Cultural interpretation
10. Workshop/Portfolio
Requirements
Campbell Center Partnership
Another opportunity for professional
mentoring
WIU scholarships available for 10 students per
year ($500 each)
Opportunity to study a topic of interest indepth
20 hours of museum-based workshops are
required for students to complete the
Master’s program
1 workshop credit for every 4 hours of handson learning experience with a museum expert
Or completion of one workshop at The
Campbell Center
Arts Portfolio Assessment: All program museum
experiences –
courses, practicum/internship, and workshops
– lead to the development of a professional
portfolio required for graduation
11. RPTA/Museum Studies Integrated BA/MA
Apply (90 hours; 30 at WIU; 3.25 GPA)
Bridge courses (9 hours)
Required Courses (6 hours):
RPTA 500/MST 500 Introduction to
Museum
RPTA 424G Fundraising and Volunteerism
Elective options (3 hours):
RPTA 448G /B Interpretation of Cultural &
Environmental Resources
RPTA 460G/B Community Tourism and
Development
RPTA 467G/B Special Event
12. What Kinds of Jobs Do Our Grads Do?
Administrator– Bishop Hill Heritage Association
Executive Director – Pella Historical Society
Assistant Director/Curator – The German American
HistoryCenter
Prparator/Exhibit Designer – Historic New Orleans Collection
Registrar – Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City
Associate Curator – Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum
Curator – Amana Colonies Historical Society
Director – American Gothic House and Museum
Museum Educator – Putnam Museum
Preparator – University of Northern Iowa Museums
Research Associate – Grout Museum District
Associate Registrar – National Mississppi River Museum
Owner – Hawkeye Studios (custom art crating/shipping)
Special Events Planner – Field Museum
Development Officer – Shedd Aquarium
Development/Intern Coordinar – Albright-Knox Art Gallery