Welcome to the Museum Studies blog at the University of Michigan!
Museums today are more dynamic than ever: in addition to being a site for the collection, study, and exhibition of objects, they have become vital arenas for civic life and community participation. This blog brings together the Graduate Certificate Program and Undergraduate Minor in Museum Studies to share museum happenings, research, and commentary. Our goal is to connect members of the museum community both at UM and in Southeast Michigan more broadly. Check back regularly for student reflections, exhibition reviews, internship/practicum experiences, alumni spotlights, and more. To submit an entry for inclusion on this page, please contact us at [email protected].
On June 2, 2025, University of Michigan’s Museum of Art’s (UMMA) Apse was dressed for the 50th and final anniversary brunch of the docent program with a careful sense of occasion. Beneath the high white columns and open balconies, the tables alternated between blush...
Introduction This research came together thanks to a mix of experiences earlier this year while I was finishing my graduate degree at the University of Michigan’s School of Information, focusing on digital archives, library science, and preservation. At the same time, I was completing...
Why Labels Matter Object labels—the little card-like tombstones next to artworks—are the most direct and intimate form of communication between a museum and its visitors. Yet, they remain one of the most underutilized tools for engagement. Too often, labels are formulaic, monotone, and quietly...
In February 2025, I found myself standing still in the African art gallery of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). The space, with its dim brown walls and soft lighting, felt like a place meant for quiet reflection. I remember being drawn to the...
Two of the most beloved artifacts of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) in Washington D.C. are R2-D2 and C-3PO. The two iconic robots of the Star Wars franchise are currently featured in the museum’s popular “Entertainment Nation / Nación del Espectáculo”...
My dissertation research examines the invisible labor of women working in museum collections, and the ways they see their labor as gendered. Over the summer of 2024, I completed a museum studies practicum that explored these questions in museums across the United States...
