For several years, it has been standard practice for the Escalette Collection of Art in Wilkinson College to include students in its acquisition process. Student input supports our goal of building a collection that can serve as an educational resource that is directly tied to students’ classes, research, and interests. It also helps students feel a sense of ownership of the “museum-without-walls” that surrounds them every day.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, the Escalette Collection continued its tradition of working with the Contemporary Gallery Practice (ART 325) class to have students research and propose an artwork to be acquired by the Collection. ART 325 is a unique opportunity for students to learn about gallery curation, exhibition planning, art criticism, and more. It also allows students to travel to visit galleries in Los Angeles, providing a hands-on learning experience. In the Spring semester alone, the students saw over 50 galleries and 25 exhibitions.

For their final projects, the students built on their experiences visiting galleries to select an artwork to propose to the Escalette Collection acquisition committee. This project helps students learn the ins and outs of how galleries sell art from the buyer’s perspective. They are responsible for communicating with gallery representatives, requesting a price list, and negotiating prices. As usual, their proposals resulted in thoughtful additions to the Collection that all of campus will enjoy for years to come.

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