Art History and Museum Studies Program

To participate in this program, participants must successfully complete the Eureka Program Research Topic 101 course before enrolling in any group or one-on-one research workshops

Many people are familiar with world-renowned artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Rembrandt van Rijn, Salvador Dali, and Michelangelo, but few are aware of how their artwork can provide insights into history. The study of art history has had a profound impact on humans throughout history. It has allowed us to understand and appreciate the diverse cultures and societies that have existed throughout time. By studying the arts and artifacts of the past, we are able to gain insight into the beliefs, values, and social structures of ancient civilizations. 

This program explores the intertwined histories of colonization, the development of the western museum, nationalism, and geopolitics, using contemporary debates about decolonizing museums and repatriating and restituting problematic objects as a vehicle. One of the most pressing issue on the arts scene across the world today is the status of hundreds of thousands of artifacts stolen or otherwise illegally obtained from indigenous peoples across the world during the period of European colonization.

The continued presence of these objects in museums in the United States and Europe despite requests for their return by their original owners signals a continuation of the founding imperialist mindset of the museum as an institution. Through the use of scholarly texts, film, websites, and social media, students will explore more on this topic. 

Eureka Alumni from this program have received admission offers to Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), University of Chicago, John Hopkins University (JHU), and other top US universities. Alumni from this program have gone off to pursue majors in Philosophy, History, Law, Economics, and Design. 

The research experience and skills students receive at the Eureka Program have helped students get accepted to prestigious programs such as the Stanford Summer Humanities Institute and the Yale Young Global Scholars. Students from this program have also had their works published in The Concord Review, which only accepts about 5% of essays received. Students from this program are also very engaged in their communities, sharing in volunteering activities and starting non-profit organizations to help the community. 

After learning about the refugee crisis in various parts of Europe, one student from Luxembourg organized a charity to send hygiene products, cooking kits, books, and other supplies. In addition, two siblings that attended this program run a non-profit organization to help young children learn about culture. 

The below sections will provide more insight into the students that have attended this program and share their experiences and successes.