St. Olaf College students have curated the exhibition 'Let's Talk: Collection Conversations' at the Flaten Art Museum, featuring over a dozen works from the museum's collection. The show, open from February 13 to April 12, is the result of a two-semester, student-led curatorial model where a fall class selected the artworks and a spring class will activate the gallery with dialogue sessions to gather community feedback.
This initiative represents a significant pedagogical shift, placing experiential learning at the center of museum studies. It demonstrates a collaborative, cross-campus model involving students, faculty, and staff that empowers students to manage real-world curatorial tasks—from selection and interpretation to public programming—directly supporting the museum's strategic planning and community engagement goals.