Event Programming
Kohler Art Library
In the Library and Information Studies course, Art Librarianship, I discovered different areas of art librarianship like collection development, instruction, outreach, and exhibitions. I was especially interest in events and outreach and used my position at the Kohler Art Library to explore these topics further.
I proposed and executed new programming to promote library resources and collaborate with other campus entities and student groups. The goals of the programming were to promote the library’s resources, attract new students, create rapport with library users, and to establish the library as a key arts entity at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. While implementing programs for the library, I learned about the library’s audience and which events and topics were successful. I planned events, adapted to change, and collaborated with other institutions and individuals.
December 2023—May 2024
Coffee & Collage: Zine Making
Coffee & Collage: Zine Making promoted the exhibition, Your Turn: Artists’ Books as Games and was a finals week destress event. This event provided coffee, tea, and art supplies for collage and zine making. Library student workers taught visitors what zines are and how to make them. There were cards from the artists’ book, Artist Ideation Cards (2013) by Julie Chen that were available for students to use for ideas and inspiration.
May 2024
Coming Out of My Cage: Restricted
Coming Out of My Cage: Restricted was the second iteration of the Coming Out of My Cage series and was co-hosted with the undergraduate student organization, Art History Society. During planning meetings with Art History Society, I introduced the library and the mission of the event and taught students how to search the catalog by location and how to choose a theme. The Kohler Art Library designed promotional material, promoted the event, and set up the materials and Art History Society chose a theme, chose items, and assisted with promotion. This event was mutually beneficial and allowed for each organization to reach new audiences.
April 2024
Your Turn: Game Night
Your Turn: Game Night was a multifaceted, collaborative event planned to promote the Kohler Art Library exhibition, Your Turn: Artists’ Books as Games. During the event, games were available on several library tales for students to play. There were also artists’ books related to games on display that were not chosen for the exhibition. During the event, exhibition curator Ruth Thomas gave a curator talk and answered questions about the artists’ books and installation process.
April 2024
Coming Out of My Cage: Valentine’s Day
Coming Out of My Cage is an event series that is free for the Kohler Art Library to host and focuses on non-circulating collections like the cage, locked, and the artists’ book collections. In this first iteration of the event, books related to love, intimacy, and relationships were on display for visitors to view and handle. The goal of this series was to teach students about non-circulating collections, make these collections less intimidating, and instruct students on how they can access these collections. This event series was also created as a way to collaborate with student groups or other departments.
February 2024
Coffee & Collage
Coffee & Collage was a creative destress event held during finals week. Coffee, tea, and art supplies were provided and students attended to create collages and chat with friends. This event attracted students from art and art history and many unrelated majors from across campus.
December 2023
Day With(Out) Art
Day With(Out) Art was a collaborative event between campus arts and health partners to celebrate the lives and achievements of those lost to the AIDS epidemic and to educate visitors about AIDS. The Kohler Art Library displayed books and artists’ books related to the AIDS epidemic. This included exhibition catalogs of artists who had suffered from AIDS, books about the AIDS quilt, and artists’ books about AIDS. I spoke to visitors about the impact of AIDS on the art world and the resources and services the Kohler Art Library provides. This event was unique because it introduced outside members of the public to the Kohler Art Library and its collections.
December 2023
