Next Friday, Sept. 30, the Frick Collection is trying something new to attract young audiences: College Night. And it’s free.
This outreach attempt is a pilot program developed by the Frick’s Education Chief Rika Burnham. This summer, she used a college-age arts intern to research the “viability” of a College Night. They discovered that a few other museums have tried it, and liked it apparently.
So, on Sept. 30, undergraduate and graduate students need only show their IDs to gain entry from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with one catch: They need to reserve in advance (Capacity is always a problem for these open events). Even that makes sense, though, because the Frick is supplying — also free — beverages and light snacks.
But it’s the programming that counts (all here in a PDF). Yes, there will be a DJ in the Music Room, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Before that, interns will give introductory talks about the Frick, and curators will speak in more detail on Rembrandt, Fragonard, and other topics. The college kids may sketch in the courtyard, learn about the Frick Art Reference Library in an information lounge and see what other educational programs the Frick offers for students.
This idea is not completely new; among the other museums that have tried are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of Art, Portland Museum of Art, High Museum of Art, Getty Center, Getty Villa, Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
But for the Frick, it’s breaking new ground. I hope the turnout is excellent.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Frick Collection