About the Project
Every year The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, FL hosts graduate students in residence as part of the MA program in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies offered in partnership with the Department of Art History at FSU. This residency exposes students to what life is like in a professional museum environment. As part of weekly seminars on the subjects of exhibition development and public programs, the students take short fieldtrips to other museums in and around Sarasota. With support from FSU’s Great Give, these experiences could be supplemented by an extended trip to Miami. With its world-class art museums and private collections, plus its vibrant gallery scene, Miami provides students a wealth of opportunities to view some of the finest examples of arts and culture museums within the state of Florida. This exciting opportunity would introduce the students to the city’s many museums, which would greatly enrich their understanding of and appreciation for the variety of institutions within the museum field.
Your gift to support the FSU-Ringling graduate students on their study tour to Miami will provide the opportunity for students to have a meaningful experience and lasting memory of their time in residence at The Ringling. Give today!
About The Ringling
Today, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the State Art Museum of Florida, is home to one of the preeminent art and cultural collections in the United States. Its story begins nearly a century ago, with the circus impresario and his beloved wife’s shared love for Sarasota, Italy, and art.
In 2000, the Florida legislature placed the stewardship of The Ringling under Florida State University. FSU has a long tradition of excellence in the arts, and the College of Fine Arts contains some of the leading arts programs in the nation. The Ringling cultural campus is home to the Sarasota Ballet, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training making it one of the largest college arts complexes in the country.
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About the FSU/The Ringling Joint M.A. in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies
The Ringling is committed to strengthening its ties with academic departments across FSU, with the aim of providing educational opportunities for students and faculty in many different disciplines, now and in the future. Florida State University’s master's program in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies combines intensive academic coursework with the faculty in Art History at FSU with a full year of internship and professional coursework at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. The program provides insight into and training for museum careers through practical work experience not available in most academic settings. After completing eight museum and art history courses in Tallahassee during the first year of study, students spend their second year in Sarasota at The Ringling. There they participate in the daily operations of specific museum departments and are intimately involved in all aspects of museum operations. A final project growing out of coursework and the internship serves as a capstone experience.