Thinking Critically about Art Museums Part II
Thinking Critically about Art Museums Part II
ART HIS 827.24
This course examines the state and functions of art museums in 2026.
Duration
As few as 6 weeks
Current Formats
In Person
Cost
Starting at $350.00
Get More Info
About This Course
What is and should be the role of art museums? How can such institutions best serve their communities? This course examines the state and functions of art museums in 2026. Led by the Instructor, students will tour either the permanent collections or special exhibitions at a series of Los Angeles-area museums--the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Hammer Museum, the Huntington Library and Gardens, the Los Angeles County Museum, and others--so as to evaluate their contents, layouts, signage, and more. How do these institutions balance audience engagement and entertainment with the imparting of knowledge? Is scholarship relevant? How is information conveyed? Further, how are these and other art venues positioned with regard to the current administration’s critique of standing institutional policies of free speech, diversity, and the recording of factual histories? During several class sessions, students will meet with museum directors or curators to hear about and discuss the aims and missions of their particular institution. While this course is designated “Part 2,” attendance in the previous course is not a prerequisite. On January 21st, the date of the initial meeting, class will be held in the space of the exhibition, The Brockman Gallery: Los Angeles, 1967-1990. The second class session will be held on Zoom. All subsequent classes will be held at locations in Los Angeles TBD.
Winter 2027 Schedule
Date
Details
Format
-
Thursday 11:00AM - 1:00PM PT
In Person
Remote Classroom
By itinerary
Deadline
Refunds only available from November 02, 2026 to January 31, 2027
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Off-Site
Thu Jan 21, 2027
11:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT
By itinerary
Discussion
Thu Jan 28, 2027
11:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Discussion
Thu Feb 4, 2027
11:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT
By itinerary
Discussion
Thu Feb 11, 2027
11:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT
By itinerary
Discussion
Thu Feb 18, 2027
11:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT
By itinerary
Discussion
Thu Feb 25, 2027
11:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT
By itinerary