Art Art Art (and other fun things!)

During the summer of 2017 I had the opportunity to participate in two intensive, 300 level museology / art history courses in Paris, Rome, and Madrid. I studied with European professors and experts in their respective fields. We visited the most prestigious museums and archaeological sites in Europe, along with many museums I would classify as hidden gems. I learned how each city is a museum in and of itself, and how to view the display of cultural heritage with a critical eye.
My study abroad experience exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I was surprised at how fluidly we were integrated into the neighborhoods where we lived in in each city. Even though we were only in each city for about 2 weeks, it truly felt like I was moving out of my own apartment each time we left to travel to the next city. I feel like I have a connection to these residential neighborhoods that I probably would never have encountered had I traveled to the city on my own as a tourist.
As someone who aspires to work with art and cultural heritage for the rest of my life, this experience opened my eyes to the function of these objects in our society. Despite my own interest in the subject, everyone I was with on this program had a different reason for being there. I believe that anyone could benefit from and enjoy this program, and encourage you to consider it.