Education

Coupling renowned traveling exhibitions and strong collections, the Richardson Family Art Museum offers an array of programs including gallery talks and lectures focused on current exhibitions. The museum is a dynamic environment for exploring art at all levels of experience and interest, arts classes and workshops, collection research opportunities, and more.

Student Curatorial Internships

The museum offers valuable experience for interns, with practicums and hands-on work experience to parallel academic research. Interns work directly with professional staff, across departments, gaining valuable experiences to further goals and interests in the operations of an art museum and non-profit organization.

Internships may be taken for credit with approval from the museum and the Department of Art and Art History. To intern at the museum, commitment to a minimum of five (5) hours a week during a semester will be required. This is a great way to get a feel for museum work. Hours can be filled with daily tasks, or special projects, depending on your interests and career goals.

For further information, please contact efurdyk@wofford.edu.

Tolbert Curatorial Internship

The Tolbert Curatorial Internship, established in 2023 by Judith K. (’77) and Thomas W. (’67) Tolbert, is designed to provide a unique opportunity to students who are interested in learning about museum practices and developing professional skills. Interns will be involved in the college’s permanent collection, especially working on its research. The year-long internship may culminate with an exhibition installation of the research topic or equivalent research project.

Eligibility, requirements and selection criteria

The internship is reserved for students who have accrued 50 or more hours of general curriculum and major/minor/specialization courses and who are selected to fulfill a year-long internship in the college’s art museum. Candidates should demonstrate outstanding character, leadership, academic aptitude and artistic promise. Wofford’s curator will have authority to choose the recipients with guidance and input from the faculty in the Department of Art and Art History.

Past Interns:

2023 Olivia Hartley

Whetsell Fellowship

Whetsell Fellows

The Whetsell Fellowship, established in 2006 by Dr. William O. Whetsell in memory of his brother, Dan Whetsell, is designed to support and promote the visual arts at Wofford. It is a summer fellowship that allows a Wofford student the opportunity to pursue study in some aspect of the visual arts under the guidance of a mentor to be selected by the college. The fellowship will cover the cost of art supplies and instruction and culminates with an exhibition at the Richardson Family Art Gallery.

Eligibility & Requirements

Any Wofford student is eligible to apply for the fellowship. Applicants should determine their choice of medium for the project, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography or mixed media. Students interested in applying for the fellowship should fill out the form in the link below.

Selection Criteria

The recipient will be selected by the Whetsell committee. The strength of both the proposed project and portfolio will be considering factors to select an awardee. He or she will receive notification, and the recipient will also be announced in the Daily Announcements.

Past Fellows:

2023 Maggie Genoble
2022 Walker Antonio
2020 Mary Kathryn Davidson (postponed to 2021)
2019 Micah Tiffin
2018 Kyla Burwick
2017 Sheridan Kate Murray
2016 Meagan Burns
2015 Margherita Cole
2014 Sarah Baldwin
2013 Josh Holt
2012 Trey Parker
2011 Amy Horton
2010 Akilah Bostic
2009 Amy Powers
2008 Amy Chalmers
2007 Callum Easter
2006 Leland Wood

View past Whetsell Fellows artwork. For further information, please email professor Michael Webster, webstermd@wofford.edu.

K-12

Wofford College and the Richardson Family Art Museum believe in enriching the education of K-12 students through exhibitions and programs. Hands-on art projects provide opportunities for children to express their creativity in fun and inspiring ways. For more information or to schedule a visit, please call 864-597-4585 or email efurdyk@wofford.edu.