In this presentation, I will explore how student-created virtual galleries can occupy the “space between” access and creation in Art and Art History education. Using Open Educational Resources (OER), students move beyond passive viewing to become curators, interpreters, and creators of visual culture, a more active space where we want students to be. Students will also learn how to see and understand broader visual culture as well.
During this session, participants will learn how to facilitate an environment where they move beyond their typical role as a passive observer to actively design virtual exhibitions that explore narratives, construct themes, or challenge traditional art and cultural narratives. Students will use OER materials for this project, including open source images and virtual presentation platforms. The resulting virtual galleries exist in the “space between” the museum and the classroom and the student and the curator.
Attendees of this session will be able to:- Create adaptable project ideas that promote student agency, equitable access to art, and multifaceted engagement with Art, Art History, and Visual Culture.
- Construct and share OER materials based on designing virtual gallery exhibitions where students can become curators.
- Develop multiple ways in which students can move from passive observers to active participants in the art world.
- Apply strategies for guiding students in selecting, interpreting, and contextualizing artworks within a thematic exhibition.
- Integrate digital tools (e.g., website builders or virtual exhibit platforms) to facilitate accessible and engaging student exhibitions.
