We believe that the visual arts connect with history, discovery, creativity, geopolitics, individuality, society, the sciences, and more, so teaching from original works of art is central to the mission of the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College. Our academic curator can help incorporate the visual arts into any field of study at any level of engagement for colleges and universities: from incorporating artworks into class syllabi to object-based intensive research projects and museum visits that connect current exhibitions to the challenges of our times. We have purpose-built facilities for the close study of objects and can guide observational exercises that will develop close-reading and interpretive skills that are essential for the life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. And every week during the school year, we have programs—lectures, performances, gallery talks, sessions with visiting artists—that can serve as an extension of the classroom.
For Faculty
The Benton invites faculty and students to engage with the museum’s exhibitions and collections in sustained and creative ways: one-time visits to exhibitions or to our Study Rooms for viewing artworks selected to support specific areas of academic interest; multiple visits over a semester or school year, with objects serving as primary materials for extensive research projects; or special sessions like “Study Days” or “salons” that involve deep engagement with specific topics and works of art.
The first step is to e-mail the museum’s academic curator Solomon Salim Moore at salim.moore@pomona.edu, who can schedule visits and assist faculty and students in developing the best format and plan for engaging the Benton’s exhibitions and collections.
For Students
As part of its teaching mission, the Benton offers multiple opportunities for students and emerging museum professionals to learn about all aspects of museum work. Every year, the museum hosts more than 30 paid internships for undergraduate Claremont Colleges students in every area of museum operations—from curatorial to programming to communications and outreach.
The Benton also has post-baccalaureate positions for students interested in museum careers and has hosted the AllPaper Seminar, an intensive, residential program to introduce the field of works on paper to emerging museum professionals from diverse backgrounds.
AllPaper Seminar
Between 2022 and 2024, we hosted the AllPaper Seminar, a professional development program designed to introduce emerging curators and artists of diverse backgrounds to the field of works on paper. Each year, a cohort of twelve participants gathered to explore introductory and advanced topics on the processes of printmaking and drawing. The AllPaper Seminar is generously supported by the Getty and the Tavolozza Foundation.
Meet our AllPaper Fellows from previous years: 2022 | 2023 | 2024
K-12 Outreach
In 2012, the museum, working with independent education consultants, developed an outreach program for third-graders at public schools in Claremont. The Native American Collection Study Center Outreach Program now reaches more than 2,300 students a year, engaging them with close observation of artworks, a visit to the museum’s vaults to see the works in state-of-the-art “smart” study rooms, and art-making activities that highlight the contributions of contemporary Native artists. These educational initiatives are an important part of what we do: bringing our collections to life through activities led or co‐taught by college students.
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