Object-Based Learning Initiative

Penn and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are honored to be among the first institutions invited to receive Andrew W. Mellon Foundation support to develop a collaborative program to foster a greater appreciation for the core value of the direct study of works of art as integral to the discipline of Art History.  Since 2012, when we jointly established the first iteration of this initiative and continuing through the current phase, the primary objective of the object-based learning initiative has remained consistent. Together, our goal is to introduce graduate students to the various modes of the study of original works of art in order to provide them with a broader understanding of the multiple methodologies available to academic and museum-based art historians, especially in their roles as curators and conservators.

In the second iteration of the grant, Penn and the Museum's program consists of: object-based study graduate workshops, regular seminars co-taught by Penn faculty and Museum staff, Graduate Mentorships, and Graduate Research Fellowships. In addition, select aspects of the program will be expanded to include a consortium of educational institutions, enabling us to reach a broader pool of professors and students. Combined, these offerings present a comprehensive approach spanning all graduate education levels, from the initial introductory workshop for first-year graduate students to the in-depth fellowships that immerse a PhD candidate in the life and work of the Museum.