University Resources

The Palmer is dedicated to supporting Penn State faculty and students by making connections to art through multiple disciplines. We offer a variety of options to fit your needs, including a new Teaching Gallery, individual exploration of the collection, instructor-led class visits, guided tours, object study, and even collaborative class development. Questions about collaborating with us? Contact Keri Mongelluzzo, Educator for Academic Engagement and Access, at klm556@psu.edu.

New Museum Teaching Gallery

For the first time in its history, the Palmer Museum will have a Teaching Gallery in the new museum anticipated to open in the spring of 2024. A hybrid gallery-classroom space, the Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery will provide a responsive pedagogical platform for faculty to engage their students in the collection while investigating course concepts.

Class discussion in the galleries

Interested in proposing an exhibition in the Teaching Gallery?

We welcome proposals for Summer 2025 and beyond. Faculty from all colleges and academic units are encouraged to propose exhibitions, installations, and projects that embed the museum’s collection into university curriculum and academic research.

 

Please complete the form linked below to submit your proposal, including a project description, object checklist, and description of curricular connections. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis with priority given to proposals that coincide with a course being taught on campus.

 

For additional information or questions, contact Keri Mongelluzzo, Educator for Academic Engagement and Access, at klm556@psu.edu.

Teaching Gallery form

Individual Exploration and Class Assignments

We love professors who send their students to the museum, whether to simply stroll the galleries or to complete an assignment. We invite you to share your assignment and due date with us so we can anticipate questions from your students. We also love to hear how students are engaging with the museum. 

Students on assignment at the Palmer Museum

Drawing in the Galleries

Drawing in the galleries is allowed with graphite or colored pencils and handheld sketchbooks – no easels, pens, markers, pastels, or paints, please. Portable stools are available throughout the galleries. 

Students should check in with Visitor Services when they arrive to make sure there are no gallery conflicts with scheduled programs and tours. 

George Whitehead Hatch (American, 1805-1867), Sketchbook, 1844, graphite, sepia, watercolor and ink on paper, blue cover with brown binding, 4-3/4 x 6-11/16 x 9/16 inches. The John Driscoll American Drawings Collection, 2018.144

Instructor-Led Class Visits

Visit with your class for in-gallery discussions at any time during regular museum hours. To avoid overcrowding in the galleries or conflicts with guided tours, please contact us at least one week in advance by e-mailing PalmerVisitorServices@psu.edu.

A student from a University class touring the Palmer

Guided Class Tours

Guided tours and presentations by Palmer Museum staff or volunteer guides can be organized to connect with classes across disciplines. Select from the tour options below and start your request by emailing Keri Mongelluzzo at klm556@psu.edu at least three weeks in advance of your visit. 

  • Museum Highlights – Introduce students to the Palmer Museum of Art with a selection of culturally significant works on view. Knowledgeable gallery educators will guide your group through discussion and interpretation of a variety of works. 
  • The Power of Observation – Encourage observation and critical thinking skills. This tour focuses on interpreting art through close observation and shared inquiry.  
  • Custom Theme – Connect your class subject matter to art. We will work with you to develop a theme and select appropriate artwork to extend your classroom to the museum. Examples of custom tours: Women in Art, Art and Identity, Picturing History. 
PSU students tour a special exhibition

Object Study

Do you need to teach with objects that are not on view in the galleries? Instructors may select works on paper or small paintings and sculpture for use by small groups in the museum’s Print Study Room.  

Browse the online collections database here for works to include in your request. Planning for this may take longer than three weeks, so contact us as early as possible. 

Former student Theresa Cunningham in study of an object from the Palmer's collection

Creative Collaborations

We are eager to work with you to create meaningful experiences for your students and support your teaching goals. The museum has worked with faculty across disciplines to develop experiential learning opportunities centered around visual art and museum practice. Contact Keri Mongelluzzo at klm556@psu.edu to brainstorm creative collaborations. Some examples of past collaborations include: 

  • Feminist Art, Intersectionality, and Museums (AED497, WGSS497) – Students met regularly in the Print Study Room to examine, discuss, and research prints from the collection that served as points of inquiry into broader issues of feminism in art history, art museums, and culture. Final projects featured public talks by students on selected prints. 
  • Introduction to Poetry Writing (ENGL 213) – Students visited the museum for instructor-led discussions, individual exploration, and creative writing assignments inspired by works on view. Final projects featured public poetry readings by students during Art After Hours. 
  • B.F.A. in Acting Program – Students selected works on view to inspire original dramatic scripts or to pair with existing texts and prepared, rehearsed, and performed as traveling players throughout the galleries. 
  • Medical Education – The museum collaborates with faculty at the College of Medicine’s University Park Curriculum to offer a variety of arts-based experiences to foster skills in observation, communication, empathy, and teamwork. 
A student actor at the Palmer in collaboration during an Art After Hours event

Questions about collaborating with us? Contact Keri Mongelluzzo at klm556@psu.edu.