Meet Our Wellesley Interns
Why did you apply for this internship?
Regina: I was interested in how museums outside the United States were remotely engaging their audiences through remote education opportunities.
Brigitte: Prior to interning at the Lobkowicz Collections, I had no experience in the arts or cultural sector and wanted to learn more about that sphere. The Collections make it very clear that their mission is to make culture accessible and relevant, so I wanted to understand how the team brought that mission to life, especially during a pandemic!
Avalon: It was a great mix of two of my interests: history and marketing. Also, I was very intrigued by the family's history and wanted to learn more.
What was the most interesting discovery you made in your research?
Regina: The need for remote audience engagement in the museum world will not end after the global pandemic.
Brigitte: A deeper understanding of not only the changing tactics that museums use to reach audiences, but also of the evolving role of cultural institutions in contemporary society. Culture has the power to connect people and reading up on how different museums are leveraging this power, especially through education, was fascinating.
Avalon: Color matters a lot in social media marketing! Putting blue or green in a post vs. reds and browns can increase the engagement significantly.
What was your favorite part of your internship experience?
Regina: Getting to know the other Wellesley students and researching 3D models of objects used by other art museums.
Brigitte: None of the tasks I worked on were one-dimensional. My research focused on marketing digital products and increasing the Collections' online presence, and I enjoyed being able to simultaneously learn about the Collections, as well as the online experiences and collections of other cultural institutions.
Avalon: Getting to know the other interns and meeting members of the Lobkowicz Collections team!
If you could pick one gift from our e-shop for your mother, what would it be?
Regina: A catalogue of the Collections. My mom collects museum catalogues specially of museums I have worked at.
Brigitte: I'm always on the lookout for gifts for my mom! I would buy her a hand-carved wooden bowl.
Avalon: The glass bowls are beautiful.
Based on your experience, how do you envision the changing art and cultural sphere in the future?
Regina: I see the art world becoming more accessible and inclusive. I envision a greater connection to the technological world and a bigger emphasis on audience engagement.
Brigitte: I think the internet presents an incredible opportunity to make cultural education and access to culture more equitable. On the other hand, I feel that the internet has also increased our tendency to rapidly consume content without thinking about it. I hope that in the future, cultural institutions can strike a balance between making art and culture accessible, fun, and diverse and using art and culture to help people slow down, reflect, and enjoy sharing time with the communities they are a part of.
Avalon: I think the art and cultural sphere will have to strike a balance between their in-person collections and virtual sphere in a way that utilizes both spaces' potential. Through my research, I saw many museums around the world adapting to COVID-19 in such unique and creative ways that challenged conventional perceptions of what a museum is supposed to be. While this pandemic has been horrible for the museum industry, I believe it is an opportunity to rethink these spaces and make them more accessible and interactive.
Regina Gallardo
Class of 2023, majoring in Art History and Latin American Studies
Brigitte Andersen
Class of 2021 majoring in International Relations
Avalon Swanson
Class of 2023, double majoring in History and Japanese
