Abstract
As the only free art museum in the city of Las Vegas, the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas believes everyone deserves access to art that challenges our understanding of the present and inspires us to create a future that holds space for us all. We work actively with artists, visitors, students, and community partners to eliminate financial and cultural barriers for art engagement. This paper explores how the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art creates a sense of belonging for the Las Vegas art community through collaborative educational programs. We include cases highlighting artist-centered exhibitions and visitor-centered workshops to bridge academic needs and activism purposes. We also describe the proactive self-sustainability efforts that transformed the institution from a desert research institute to a contemporary art museum. By positioning the museum in the heart of innovation and cultural participation, the Barrick demonstrates how other museums can adapt to local needs while maintaining their relevance as community hubs. This study also contributes to the broader conversation of how academic art museums can serve as an ideal Third Place for social participation and community engagement and provide strategies to foster interdisciplinary collaborations.
Presenters
Zida WangManager of Community Engagement and Outreach, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, Community Engagement, Academic Art Museum
