Faculty
SCMA’s collections and exhibitions serve as important resources for teaching and learning across disciplines. Faculty from any college or university are welcome to arrange class visits.
Investigating, analyzing and interpreting visual art encourages deep critical thinking, sparks curiosity and provides a focal point for lively group dialogue and gallery experiences. By interrogating the museum itself, students can also expand their understanding of approaches to collecting, display and interpretation.
Class visits and curricular connections
All guided and self-guided class visit requests are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. To arrange a visit, please contact Charlene Shang Miller, Educator for Academic Programs, csmiller@smith.edu or 413-585-3109.
SCMA educators with expertise in object-based teaching and learning can work with you to craft museum experiences and assignments that connect art with your curricula in meaningful ways. We occasionally rotate works of art in the galleries, so check with staff to confirm that a specific artwork will be on display when you visit.
Resources
The Teaching Gallery
Museum staff collaborate with faculty to select works of art to exhibit in the Teaching Gallery. To maximize use by students and faculty, this flexible space can accommodate multiple courses. Works of art remain on view for extended periods of time with access during regular museum hours.
The Museum Classroom
The Museum Classroom provides space for further discussions, lectures and presentations as part of a class visit. Equipped with a chalkboard, digital projection equipment and seating for up to 25 people, the classroom is available on a limited basis.
Collection Research
Search our online collection database to find works of art on or off view. To consult collection objects in storage and related research files, please schedule an appointment.
Accessing Works of Art in Storage
For class visits, please contact Charlene Shang Miller, Educator for Academic Programs, csmiller@smith.edu. Individual researchers can search the entire collection through our online database.
Digital Images
SCMA’s collection is mostly digitized, and thousands of high-quality images are available for teaching. Images can be found in the museum's collection database.
Additional high-quality images are accessible via Artstor. To use Artstor, you must be affiliated with a participating nonprofit institution (university, college, museum, public library or K-12 school).
Please contact Charlene Shang Miller, Educator for Academic Programs, csmiller@smith.edu for assistance in locating images.