Class Visit Frequently Asked Questions
I have a topic and/or theme for the class but don’t know of any artworks in the BCMA collection that relate to it. Should I still try to arrange a class visit?
Absolutely! Museum staff are happy to work with you to select objects from the collection or discuss how current exhibitions might be relevant. We can search the database to find objects on a theme, geographic region, or time period; we can also help brainstorm lesson plans. Please email BCMALearning@bowdoin.edu to learn more.
My course has more than 16 students enrolled. Can we still arrange a class visit?
Yes. The capacity for the Zuckert Seminar Room is 16 students (in addition to Museum staff and the instructor). For classes with more than 16 students, we can arrange a combination of time spent in Zuckert and in the galleries. We can accommodate an unlimited number of students for visits in the galleries but may suggest breaking up large classes into smaller groups.
My class meets on a Monday or before the galleries open at 10 am. Can we still arrange a class visit?
Yes. We can accommodate class visits Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. If the class meets at a time the galleries are closed, a BCMA staff member will remain with the group for the duration of the visit (this also applies to self-guided visits).
I don’t teach courses on art and/or don’t typically discuss art in my classes. How do I find out if visiting the BCMA makes sense?
Feel free to reach out to BCMALearning@bowdoin.edu. Our Curator or Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow will follow up to discuss ideas for incorporating object-based learning in your courses. We work with instructors from a range of disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, STEM, and more.
Is it possible for students to request BCMA objects for individual research?
Yes. As with class visits, we require 2-3 weeks advance notice to schedule the Zuckert Seminar Room and pull the objects. Either the course instructor or the student(s) can email BCMALearning@bowdoin.edu to set up a research visit.
Is it possible for faculty to request BCMA objects for individual research?
Of course! We LOVE when faculty use our collection for their research. See the response above about guidelines for reserving the Zuckert Seminar Room and requesting objects.