Click the linked activity title to access Assignment 3: Cultural Activity Report.

Visit a museum or art gallery before the end of Week 9 (Option 1, details below). If you are unable to get to a museum or gallery within your area, then a "create your own museum" assignment can be completed in its place (see Option 2, details below). The museum or gallery you visit (Option 1) or create (Option 2) should contain art or artifacts from the time period you are studying in this course. Select from one of the following options:

Option 1: Visiting a Museum

Write a 2–3 page report, 500–750 words that describes your experience:

1. Visit a museum or gallery near you. Select a minimum of 5–10 works of art by 5–10 different artists, from different time periods discussed in the text (Ancient Times to 1600s).
2. Clearly identify the location, date attended, and your initial reaction upon arriving at the museum or gallery.
3. Provide a description and summary of at least 5–10 works of art by 5–10 different artists.
4. Provide a photograph of each selected piece if the venue allows it. (Some museums strictly prohibit photography.)
5. Explain your initial reaction to the artwork you selected and explain why you chose each piece.
6. Describe the role of museum founder and curator.
7. Use the class text as a reference (additional sources are fine, but not necessary unless required by your content). Your report should include connections you make between things observed in your activity and things learned in the course and text.

Here are some tips about visiting a museum in person:

• It makes sense to approach a museum the way a seasoned traveler approaches visiting a city for the first time. Find out what museums are accessible to you and have exhibits that intrigue you.
• Find out what sort of exhibitions are currently housed in the museum you select. When you go, start with the exhibits that interest you or, if there is a traveling exhibition, look at that first. Then later, if you have time, you can check out other exhibits.
• Keep in mind that the quality of your experience is not measured by the amount of time you spend in the galleries or the number of works of art that you see.
• Your goal is to find 5–10 works of art by 5–10 different artists who intrigue you, and then consider those works in leisurely contemplation. Most museums have benches where you can sit and study a particular piece. Take notes while you are there.

Option 2: Create and Curate Your Own Art Museum

This assignment is an alternative option for visiting a museum or art gallery. For this paper, you will select and curate a minimum of 5–10 works of art by 5–10 different artists to include in your own art museum. Use your textbook and online sources to help you find these works of art. A good resource for this assignment is the Google Arts and Culture website from the Google Cultural Institute. Here you can immerse yourself in cultural experiences across art, history and wonders of the world—from more than a thousand museums across 70 countries.

Assignment Instructions

Write a 2–3 page report, 500–750 words that describes your experience.

1. Select a minimum of 5–10 works of art by 5–10 different artists, from different time periods discussed in the text (Ancient Times to 1600s).
2. Clearly identify the location of the museum and your initial reaction when exploring the artwork in the online museum or gallery.
3. Provide a description and summary of at least 5–10 works of art by 5–10 different artists.
4. Include a screenshot of each piece.
5. Explain your initial reaction to the artwork you selected and explain why you chose each piece.
6. Describe the role of museum founder and curator.
7. Use the class text as a reference (additional sources are fine, but not necessary unless required by your content). Your report should include connections you make between things observed in your activity and things learned in the course and text.

Note: The same rubric will be used for both Options 1 and 2. In one section of the rubric, you are graded on your discussion of the role of the founder and curator of the museum. For Option 1, you will likely find this information on the museum web page or museum materials. For Option 2, the roles of museum founder and curator are held by you.

Assignment Requirements

Your assignment must follow these requirements:

• This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS) [PDF]. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Examine historical works of art to identify themes that are relevant to both past and present.

Review the rubric on the assignment submission page.

See assignment overviews from your professor in the "Help from..." tab on the left menu.