How to Get Involved in Art History as a Student: A Comprehensive Guide

For students passionate about art history, engaging in extracurricular activities is a vital way to deepen their knowledge, gain practical experience, and build a strong portfolio. As an Art History student, it is easy to find adverts for internships and job opportunities in fields related to the subject. These can be in art magazines, curating, creative writing or even languages. However, there are many people looking for such opportunities and you will not always get them. This article explores various avenues for students to immerse themselves in the world of art history, from volunteering at museums to conducting research and writing for publications.

Understanding Art History Studies

Before delving into extracurricular activities, it's essential to understand what art history studies entail. Art history students analyze artworks, study their historical and cultural contexts, and familiarize themselves with various art movements and styles. Research plays a key role, involving both primary sources, like archival documents, and secondary sources, such as scholarly articles. Writing is central to their work, with students regularly producing essays, research papers, and critiques, while also participating in presentations, discussions, and debates to articulate and defend their interpretations of art.

Practical Experiences

Volunteering or Working at a Museum or Gallery

Getting involved with museums and galleries is one of the easiest ways for a student of art history to become fully immersed in their profession through art history extracurricular activities. Many museums have volunteer docent programs whereby they give tours and share their knowledge of the art on exhibit. Through constant exposure to and study of particular artworks and historical periods, this job not only improves one’s public speaking abilities but also develops their grasp of such topics. Students hone their ability to describe complicated concepts in an interesting and straightforward manner by discussing art to a variety of audiences. This is an essential talent for any art historian.

Helping a curator can be a fulfilling experience for individuals who have a strong interest in the planning and organization of exhibitions. In addition to writing wall labels and organizing artwork for exhibitions, students can also help arrange events that revolve around the show. This position provides an introduction to the curatorial process as well as a useful application of art history extracurricular activities expertise.

It's a way to get experience, to meet people who could hire you or give you references and so on. Before I became an art teacher, I studied art conservation, and to get into most programs, having museum volunteer experience was necessary. As a student, I had some unpaid internships in museums during the summer, and when I graduated from the program, I had 2 post-graduate fellowships, both of which paid, before I got my full time job (which I ultimately left). So to go for a career in a museum, you really need to be dedicated and be able to see the "big" picture of your career.

Check to see if your college has any kind of internships with museums, or contact your local museum or art gallery to see if they have any volunteers opportunities. For example, if you lived in the DC area, the Smithsonian has opportunities for internships and fellowships (they pay, but not much) for all levels of students from college to graduate students. But I would start locally, and be flexible about the type of museum; you might have your heart set on working in an art museum, but gaining experience in, say a science museum would still be museum experience. Same thing with a gallery, having retail experience in a gift shop would be transferable experience.

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of being able to spend a year or even a summer volunteering, most of us have to work at least part time to make ends meet. But even if you could only give a few hours of volunteering at a local museum or historical society, that would be a help. I would talk to your current art history professors, and see what they suggest, or talk to your college's career office. If you have a local museum or historical society, that might be a perfect opportunity for you to conduct an "informational" interview with a curator.

Internships are the foundation for careers in the art world. Volunteering and interning are definitely the way to go, though most museums unfortunately don't have the funding to pay for these programs. This allows you to add projects to your resume and build your network, which will eventually lead to a paid position. You may have to hustle through some part-time work, internships and school for awhile, but it pays off! Many of the larger institutions have competitive programs, so try the smaller ones! The city has many great, lesser-known museums.

I volunteered at ORT Gallery for six weeks, from mid-May till the end of June. ORT is located in Balsall Heath on Moseley Road; it is a socially involved artist-led art gallery whose main aim is to engage with the life of the local community and challenge traditional forms and exclusivity of the art world. After just two weeks, I learnt a lot about the local community of Balsall Heath and Moseley. I did some research on the South Asian diaspora in Birmingham, partly as preparation for the internship but also to further my own interest in the subject, which was related to the current exhibition displayed at the gallery. I also got to know fascinating artists that I hadn’t heard of before. Several times, I had an opportunity to open and close the gallery and prepare it for arriving guests, which was very exciting. Sometimes, it was also challenging as I had to deal with some issues with TV screens that were part of the exhibition and which didn’t quite work correctly!

My role as a volunteer included invigilating the space, keeping it and artworks safe, meeting and greeting ORT visitors, supporting them with any questions or concerns, and using my knowledge about the exhibition to help them understand the current exhibition better. This aspect of my role was quite important because I was the first person the visitors encountered when coming to see the exhibition. Additionally, I supported other activities, such as workshops. Overall, working as a volunteer at ORT Gallery was an exciting opportunity which changed my perspective and how I imagined it might be to be a staff member in an art gallery. It allowed me to work on my confidence in the museum space and to learn to react to visitors’ queries and questions about the exhibition. I also learned how to operate the equipment such as TV screens, record players, etc., that were an important part of the display.

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Curating an Art Show

One last option for demonstrating an interest in art history is to curate an art show at your high school. This is particularly relevant for students who are actively involved in the visual arts or those who intend to pursue a career as a museum curator. If you’ve been taking painting or drawing classes throughout high school, curating a show of your own work and that of your peers is a great way to showcase not only your visual art, but also your understanding of how pieces of art work together to create a cohesive art show. You will be responsible for organizing the visual presentation of the art and for conceptualizing the show itself. You might be responsible for writing a description of various elements, placing various works of art in some type of logical progression, and gathering and editing artists’ statements.

In addition, you will need to oversee the logistics of organizing an art show. You’ll need to promote it to the target audience, whether that’s your school community or the general public. This could include creating flyers, announcements, or other marketing materials. You might also need to raise funds necessary for putting on the show. Your costs could include any materials used in the display or marketing, along with any refreshments served during the show.

Campus Assistantships

Campus assistantships are provided to many qualified students. These students work an average of ten hours per week. They aid in the teaching process and work on faculty directed research projects. Faculty also assist students interested in attaining fellowships from outside institutions, such as the J. Paul Getty Museum. Art History MA students have the exceptional opportunity to teach as Instructors of Record. Students may apply to be a teaching intern and then instructor for Art 110 Introduction to the Visual Arts, our foundation art history course for non-majors.

Academic and Intellectual Pursuits

Joining an Art Club

Students can learn from others, share their expertise, and go deeper into particular topics by joining an art history club as part of art history extracurricular activities. These groups might host panel discussions, movie screenings, or guest lectures on a range of artistic trends, eras, or figures. These exercises promote group learning and open up fresh viewpoints on well-known topics.

Engaging with the creation and study of art might be facilitated by joining a larger student art society. Students may sponsor presentations by local artists and art historians, plan art workshops, or curate exhibitions in these societies. This engagement bridges the gap between theory and practice by promoting a comprehensive understanding of art.

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The most obvious and simplest way to pursue an interest in art history is to join an art history or art appreciation club at your school. Here, you’ll typically study various periods of art, take field trips to museums, engage in thoughtful discussions with peers, and share your own insights and ideas. In addition, joining a club is a simple way to ensure that your interest in art history is evident on your college application. You’ll be able to include it on the Activities section of your application, and your prolonged participation and, ideally, increased leadership roles will be clear examples of your dedication. If no such club exists at your school, don’t be deterred. You can start your own! Starting your own club will still highlight all of the qualities of joining a club on your college application, and will add extra evidence of your ability to think outside the box and take initiative. To do so, look into the formal avenues required by your school for starting a school-sanctioned club. A guidance counselor, adviser, or teacher can usually point you in the right direction.

Taking Art History Courses

Taking the Art History AP course and capping it off with a great score on the AP exam is another obvious way to ensure that your interest in art history is clearly evident on your application. To take the Art History AP exam without taking the class, you’ll need to talk with your school’s AP coordinator well in advance. Plan to communicate your plans by February to allow enough time to coordinate registration. Even if your school cannot accommodate you, the College Board can often refer you to nearby local schools who might be willing to allow you to test there.

You can also show your interest in art history by pursuing other closely related topics. In the case of art history, this can simply mean pursuing the study of both art and history as stand alone subjects. Taking courses in the visual arts will allow you to better understand the artist’s process and the tools and materials used by artists. You’ll often develop a deeper appreciation for various styles and mediums by practicing them yourself. You can also learn more about world history in order to better contextualize your understanding of various periods of art throughout time. Studying the Middle Ages or the Renaissance can give you a better grasp on the interplay between historical events, culture, and the characteristics of art common to that time period. You can enroll in formal classes through your school or a nearby community college to further your knowledge, or you might opt to take online classes or self-study.

Summer Programs and Classes

There are many summer programs or classes out there that will help you to learn more about art history and show your interest in the subject matter. The easiest way to find one local to you is to check with your closest community college or local university. Even if the program is not specific to high school students, you will often be allowed to take a college level class. If you are looking for a summer art history program specific to high school students, consider the High School Programs at the National Gallery of Art. These programs usually need to be booked by groups, so if you can gather 15 interested peers and convince a teacher to help you, you will be able to arrange your own program. Alternatively, the three week Summer Immersion program at Columbia University also offers courses relevant to art history. These include Understanding the Arts: Art History and Architecture, Critical Focus on the Visual Arts: Arts and Architecture, and Painting: The Painted Image.

Research and Writing Opportunities

Writing Art History Topics for the Public

For students who love to share their love of art history via writing, they can contribute to art publications as part of art history extracurricular activities. There are periodicals or magazines in many schools where students can write essays, reviews, or articles about various aspects of art history. This helps students improve their research and writing abilities while contributing to the academic community. For students looking to reach a wider audience, launching an art history blog or YouTube channel is a great idea. They can analyze the cultural relevance of specific works of art, examine exhibitions, interview artists or curators, and exchange perspectives on art movements.

Lastly, when in doubt, take to the internet. Start a blog or Instagram account focusing on your specialty, or get in contact with an existing one about potentially creating some content. This has become a great way for professionals who are new to the field to get their voices out there.

Working on an Art History Research Paper

Students can explore their personal interests in the field - be it a specific artist, movement, or theoretical perspective - through research papers as part of art history extracurricular activities. Their knowledge is increased, and it also gets them ready for additional academic pursuits like graduate school or jobs in galleries, museums, and other art-related industries. Some schools have formal avenues for pursuing your own studies. If this is the case at your school, discuss with a guidance counselor, adviser, or teacher in advance how you might go about earning credit or recognition for your final product. Writing your own in-depth research paper or undertaking an independent study is a smart way to learn more about a topic of interest and to reinforce how seriously you take your work in this subject area.

There are several art history journals that high school students can send in their paper to.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Publications: This high school competition is quite prestigious. Essays on art history that are among the winning submissions are frequently published in related journals or anthologies.
Polyphony Lit: High school students worldwide are invited to submit their works to this student-run literary magazine. It publishes literary essays, fiction, poetry, and articles about art and art history.
National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS): NHSJS has a main focus on science related journeys. However, students are welcome to submit art and art history research paper with scientific evidence.
Interlochen Review: It is a reputable journal as it is published by the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Research submissions include papers in creative writing and art history paper.
Adroit Journal: While Adroit specializes in poetry and prose, it also accepts critical essays on art history issues.

For writing and research projects, students benefit from resources such as the Visual Resources Center, computer center, and the University’s art museum.

Networking

Also, talk to your professors. They may have connections to individuals or institutions that would put you higher on the list of applicants to these programs. Look for art history societies - these organizations frequently offer discounted student membership and are a great place to network and gain continued education through symposia (check out the Midwest Art History Society!). Networking can help you as well.

Overcoming Challenges

In February 2021, like other humanities students every year, I applied for the Experience Arts Internship, a programme designed and sponsored by the University of Birmingham and dedicated exclusively to all students and recent graduates (up to two years) who studied in the College of Arts and Law or Liberal Arts. I sent my application forms to three organisations, but I hoped to work specifically with one of them. One of the main reasons for this was because of the cancellation of internships last year due to the pandemic; as a result, the number of applicants doubled, exceeding everyone’s expectations. There were 72 applicants for the role of Assistant Curator at ORT Gallery that particularly interested me and only four students were invited for the interview. In fact, there was nothing wrong with my application. I was too determined to give up though!

Universities with Strong Art History Programs

Harvard University: Offers History of Art and Architecture. Students have access to the Harvard Art Museums, which house a significant collection of artworks, manuscripts, and archives. The program also promotes interdisciplinary studies, linking art history to subjects such as literature, history, and anthropology.
University of Cambridge: Offers History of Art. Cambridge’s rich cultural past, which includes the Fitzwilliam Museum and the university’s large libraries, creates an exceptional atmosphere for studying art history.
Yale University: Offers History of Art, which involves both Western and non-Western art. Students get access to Yale University Art Gallery and the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
University of California, Berkeley: Offers History of Art. The curriculum is known for its interdisciplinary approach, which encourages students to explore connections between art, culture, and society. The program spans multiple periods and geographic places, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and visual analysis.
Princeton University: Offers Art and Archaeology. The program is well-known for its concentration on research and scholarship in art history. The program spans a wide range of periods and regions, with possibilities for students to do original research and interdisciplinary studies.

Connecting with Art

The exhibition, ‘Recipes for Resistance’, was originally opened to the public on October 24, 2020. However, due to the government’s decision about the closure of cultural sites in the UK, ‘Recipies for Resistence’ was extended till June 25, 2021. The exhibition was curated by Raju Rage, an activist, visual artist, and writer born in Kenya, raised in London, who gathers and engages various communities and social groups organising workshops, exhibitions, and creative projects. The project included works by artists such as Jasleen Kaur, Sabba Khan and Navi Kaur. ‘Recipes for Resistance’ was Rage’s critical response to the challenges and issues that have arisen in the South Asian diasporas over the course of many years. Rage poses questions that attempt to oppose people’s reduced and generalised views on the South Asian culture as ‘curry’ culture.

The works that especially caught my attention were photographs by Navi Kaur hung in a straight line on a fuchsia wall, a curatorial decision to keep the exhibition’s space and atmosphere vivid. Since the images were unframed, they contrasted significantly with the wall creating an amusing effect. All eleven photographs presented the domestic life of Kaur’s grandparents, first-generation migrants raised in Sikh culture. They are shown while shopping, cooking, and with vegetables grown in their allotment. Interestingly, if you look closer at the images, you will realise that the presented products and food from supermarkets are not entirely British. They are mixed together with Indian food bought from Indian sections in supermarkets or local Indian grocery shops. Through the food mixing and juxtaposition of British and South Asian elements, Kaur demonstrates how both cultures interpenetrate and create cultural layers within the multicultural and multiracial society. Kaur also explains how the South Asian diasporas adopt British culture while simultaneously maintaining and caring for their own.

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