1. Artist as Activist: The Ohio State University Libraries and the Columbus Museum of Art Project to Promote Collections, Outreach, and Community Learning.
- Author
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Gluibizzi, Amanda
- Subjects
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ART exhibitions , *BUSINESS partnerships - Abstract
In the winter of 2007, the OSU Libraries partnered with the Columbus Museum of Art to develop a program for exhibiting works from and disseminating information about collections that involve activism on the part of artists. The Museum has recently acquired objects from the Philip J. and Suzanne Schiller Collection of American Social Commentary Art, and has already begun building programs around the collection. The OSU Libraries have strong special collections holdings in theatre and cartooning and comics and list as part of their mission engagement with the community and the promotion of lifelong learning. The partnership is seen as a way to bring the two institutions together toward work for a common goal, taking advantage our collections and team expertise. On the libraries' end, the partnership has involved members from seven different departments: the Theatre Research Institute, the Cartoon Research Library, University Archives, Rare Books and Manuscripts, the Fine Arts Library, the Technical Services Department, and, interestingly, the Veterinary Medicine Library, whose librarian was asked to act as the proposal developer and to work with the Museum to develop the planning stages of the program and to write a grant proposal for a Museum/Library Partnership grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. On the Museum's side, the curator of American art, the registrar's office, education, and development were all involved to present possibilities for collaborative work. What has resulted is a vision for a dynamic cross-collections program that will involve an exhibition, a symposium, an interactive web site, and educational activities. Under the umbrella theme of Artist as Activist, we identified three topics that are pertinent to our city and region: the welfare of children, civil rights, and artists' responses to war. The programs will reach the entire city through an exhibition in recovered downtown space, through school programs and lesson planning, and will make a commitment to intergenerational interaction with activities for senior citizens and elements online and in the exhibitions that will allow for sharing and response from our visitors. This project has successfully brought to the table libraries, university departments, the Columbus Museum, and other community partners to work for a common goal. I will be speaking about our ideas for programming and outreach and discussing ways that art libraries can be active members of cultural networks and can contribute to the active intellectual life of our communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008