Last fall, the Georgia Museum of Art launched its student gallery teacher program, a yearlong experiential-learning initiative for University of Georgia students. The program offers participants opportunities to learn, teach and build meaningful connections between art and audiences. Its inaugural cohort began this past semester, with members committing to a full academic year of service and training.
Designed as an experiential learning environment, the program provides enriching experiences for both UGA students and the Athens community. By stepping into public-facing roles as museum educators, students develop academic and professional skills while strengthening the museum’s ties to local schools and families. “Our hope is to have more UGA students involved directly in our school, youth and family programming,” said Callan Steinmann, the museum’s director of learning and engagement.
Student gallery teachers work closely with education staff and community docents to lead tours for pre-K – 12 groups. A central part of their work is engaging Clarke County School District students through the museum’s long-standing 5th-grade tour program, which is part of UGA’s overall effort to strength ties between the university and the school district. They also support popular youth and family offerings such as Family Days, Toddler Tuesdays and Teen Studio, along with other school tours. All student gallery teachers are paid on an hourly basis for their work.
Guided by Steinmann and Kaitlyn Loyd, assistant curator of education, students join regular training sessions that range from teaching workshops to researching objects to behind-the-scenes tours and field trips. These activities help them gain new skills in object-based teaching, research and program evaluation. They also gain a broad understanding of the museum’s collection and special exhibitions.
The program reflects the museum’s belief that galleries are not just places to look at art but also spaces for active learning. The approach to gallery teaching is interactive, inquiry-based and multi-modal, prioritizing observation and noticing, and fostering personal discovery, creativity and curiosity. Instead of simply delivering facts, student gallery teachers employ a variety of activities and techniques to encourage visitors to ask questions, share observations and make personal connections with works of art. Tours become lively conversations rather than one-sided lectures.
The new initiative not only builds job skills for students but fosters a strong sense of community for them. Students from different majors and backgrounds work together to refine their craft, exchange ideas and share challenges. This collaborative environment allows them to learn just as much from one another as they do from their training.
“It is a unique way to meet and work closely with other UGA students,” Steinmann said. “It will be a great opportunity for the student gallery teachers to form a real learning community as a group.”
The inaugural group of six students held its first meeting September 10. Since then, they have been preparing to lead tours and developing strategies to share their knowledge in engaging ways.
Sophia Nguyen, a third-year undergraduate majoring in international affairs and art history, was inspired by years of visiting museums while traveling with her family. “I resonated with their mission to make information about the past more accessible, significant and powerful in the present,” she said. “The Georgia Museum of Art has the same mission right here on campus, and I thought: why not take the chance to do the same?”
Ella Madden, a third-year art education major, especially looks forward to working with children. “They have the best questions! I love sharing what I know with others and learning from them through the questions they ask,” she said. Through the program, she hopes to encourage greater interaction with art while gaining communication skills and overall educational experience.
Together with their peers, these students bring diverse academic interests and personal experiences to their work with the museum. This diversity ensures that every tour and program benefits from fresh perspectives and innovative approaches.
The student gallery teacher program goes beyond providing teaching opportunities. Members deepen their understanding of museums as cultural institutions, grow their professional and interpersonal skills, and make meaningful contributions to both the university and the Athens community. By building bridges between visitors and original works of art, student gallery teachers embody the museum’s mission to share more art with visitors of all ages.
Interested in sharing art? Applications for the 2026 – 27 cohort will open in spring 2026 with a deadline of July 15. Students can learn more on the museum’s website or by contacting Steinmann at callan@uga.edu.
Authored by:
Jeehyung Pyo
