Area students invited to College Student Night at Worcester Art Museum

Worcester Art Museum is opening its doors expressly for all college and graduate students interested in learning about the internationally renowned cultural mecca.

Museum director Jim Welu will take college students on a free tour of the museum’s special exhibitions on Sept. 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in an event titled "WAM 101: College Student Night."

“Students will get a wonderful talk by Jim Welu, one of the finest museum directors in America,” says Jim Hogan, director of library services at Holy Cross’ Dinand Library. “He gives a lively, informative presentation and will gladly take questions. I am not sure that everyone is truly aware of how excellent the Worcester Art Museum really is, and it is right here in our midst!”

For those who don’t know, let us paint the picture: The museum features an exceptional 35,000-piece collection of paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photography, prints and drawings spanning 5,000 years of art and culture.

This year Holy Cross is offering free transportation to the Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., for students in the Colleges of Worcester Consortium. No RSVP is required. For a complete schedule, click here [PDF].

“I want to provide the opportunity for every Holy Cross student to have a significant experience at the museum. The buses are the best way to bring our students to the museum,” Hogan says.

Students who attend the event will also get a tour of the library at the museum, which is run by Holy Cross. The entire event is organized by Debby Aframe, librarian at the Worcester Art Museum Library.

“I want our students to realize that in addition to the wonderful library resources we make available here at the College, they also have a 50,000 volume art library at their disposal over at the museum. They can use it anytime. Debby is an excellent reference librarian and loves to work with students when they are preparing papers. They can hop over to the museum and make use of her expertise on an almost personal basis.”

Hogan stresses that students shouldn’t miss this opportunity.

“The Worcester Art Museum is a great educational resource for all the colleges. It benefits both students and faculty. An art museum is important to students of art as laboratories are for students of science. And the museum is not just for art students. It is critical to work in classics, history, religion, and literature. Through art we understand how people from all over the planet have viewed their lives, their relationships with each other, and their relationship with the Almighty.”

Did we mention they’re offering free food?

“Students will get to enjoy free food and beverages,” says Hogan. “Plus, they get to mingle with students from the other colleges in Worcester, and they get all this in a relaxed environment.”

Related Information:

• Word on Worcester • Colleges of Worcester Consortium