Keywords

Museums, community, place-based education

Abstract

The human condition in the post-modern world is increasingly nomadic. A sense of displacement and alienation is pervasive. Schools emphasize abstracted knowledge removed from the experience of students. Many people feel detached from the places where they live and have no particular sense of belonging or responsibility toward their communities. Museums can counter this pervasive restlessness and be a powerful source of community renewal. This article draws connections between place-based education theory and the educational mission of the art museum, as illustrated by the Springville Museum of Art. The small town of Springville, Utah enjoys an unparalleled connection with its community. What began as a high-school collection of paintings has grown into a cultural institution that influences art and education throughout the state and continues to nourish and sustain the community. The Springville Museum provides a glimpse into how place-based education is manifest within a local museum.

Original Publication Citation

Graham, M. A. & Gray, S. (2007). This is the Right Place: The Springville Museum of Art and Place-Based Education. The Journal of Museum Education, November, 2007.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2007

Publisher

Journal of Museum Education

Language

English

College

Fine Arts and Communications

Department

Art

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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