Learning about art and architecture in the classroom is one thing, but handling artworks and learning about real-world heritage issues is quite another. Undergraduate students from the Art History department have been working across Toronto in auction houses, contemporary art galleries, and architectural heritage organizations as part of the department’s fast-growing internship program.
This opportunity enables undergraduate students to develop their skills and gain workplace experience in Toronto’s vibrant cultural sector. Over the past year, the department has placed 32 undergraduate students with organizations including the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, the Art Dealers Association of Canada, Giaimo, Cowley Abbott Fine Art, Olga Korper Gallery, and the Toronto Society of Architecture.
These placements demonstrate the wealth of opportunities in Canada's art and heritage sector. Reflecting on her internship with The National Trust, third-year art history student Cindy Staffieri noted: “Learning about this aspect of Canadian heritage and culture was humbling. We are constantly looking outside of our borders for great art and architecture. We fail to remember all that our country has to offer. This internship has created a desire to further my studies in Canadian art and architecture and to take part in preserving and sharing our heritage.”
The program engages students with Toronto’s unique cultural ecosystem, including its long history of artist-run organizations. Angel Yang, a 4th-year geography and urban planning student worked on a project at 401 Richmond that examined the history of the building. As Yang describes, the project “aim[ed] to capture the historical narrative of the building, as well as to demonstrate how art and collaboration impact the community. The project involved collecting data from archival newsletters that range from the 1990s to the present, and choosing important events to showcase in the historical timeline. It also involved interviewing past and present tenants at the building to learn about their personal journey with 401.”
Students have been enthusiastic about acquiring on-the-job experience as part of their degree program. The community partners have also reported the positive impact of working with students from the department.
Professor Jessica Mace, who coordinates the program, has been networking with prospective new partners to meet student demand and provide more opportunities for Art History students. Exciting times are ahead for the program, Mace promises: “The program is growing and I am positive we’ll be able to continue to offer high-quality placement and career mentorship for Art History students.”
Whether handling physical artworks, diving into the archives, or addressing contemporary issues in preservation, art history interns are engaging in experiential learning opportunities that will help shape their future careers.