Visual Art + Design students participated in an in-class workshop with the Speed Art Museum in early October. They were able to interact with real artifacts, and invited to slip on a pair of white gloves, pick up a magnifying glass, and become a real-life Art Detective. For our workshop, students focused on Exhibition Design. They were asked “What does it take to design an exhibition?” Students were able to act as curators, educators, and exhibition designers as they analyzed and explored this collection of artworks. Working in teams, they conceptualized a new exhibition, and presented their ideas to Speed staff.

Art Detectives brings art from the Speed’s education collection into area schools to encourage curiosity and foster meaningful engagement with art. The program aims to develop three main skills:

Observation – Students increase their observation skills by looking closely at original works of art
Collaboration – Students work together in small groups to see what they can deduce about a given object
Problem Solving – Like a detective, students deduce the purpose, material, and creator of a given object

Exhibition Design: What does it take to design an exhibition? Students were invited to act as curators, educators, and exhibition designers as they analyzed and explored this collection of artworks. Working in teams, they conceptualized a new exhibition.

Students that participated in Art Detectives received a Family Voucher, allowing them to visit with their family free of charge on any day the Speed is open.