by Eveline Chang and Tim Hayduk Center for Architecture Foundat
Claire Buckley guides Family Day participants through the Center for Architecture’s exhibitions.
Catherine Teegarden
Second graders participate in Buckley’s “Architecture in the Middle East” gallery program.
Catherine Teegarden
Eveline Chang, Program and Marketing Manager at the Center for Architecture Foundation (CFAF), spoke with Claire Buckley about her experience interning at CFAF.
EC: Why were you interested in interning at CFAF?
CB: I was looking for a well-established, smaller-scale institution where I could gain museum-based teaching experience and participate in different aspects of museum programming. I was particularly attracted to the hands-on and participatory approach of student programs at the Center. Finally, I felt that the mission of CFAF aligned well with my own developing beliefs.
EC: What were some of the rewarding aspects of your internship?
CB: The opportunity to develop my own FamilyDay@theCenter and StudentDay@theCenter programs were incredibly rewarding and beneficial. Through creating, booking, and teaching the programs I gained valuable firsthand experience in the field of museum education. Furthermore, I appreciated working closely with the education staff as they provided immediate feedback and support throughout this process.
EC: What are some of the challenging aspects of your internship?
CB: I do not have a background in architecture, so the internship proved a continuous learning experience as I worked to deepen and expand my architectural knowledge. Being surrounded by the Center’s galleries and the CFAF staff, I was inspired to absorb as much as I could during this experience.
EC: Tell us more about the program that you developed and memorable highlights from that experience.
CB: My StudentDay@theCenter program focused on the Center’s exhibitions about architecture in the Middle East. School groups looked closely at a selection of buildings, considering how the qualities of a place, such as climate and resources, affect local architecture. One detail we explored is the use of screening as a way to diffuse light and create shade. During the workshop, students made their own paper screens and then tested their designs by shining a flashlight through them to see the effect of the screen. It was incredibly enjoyable to see the children’s reactions as they admired their unique patterns projected on the wall.
EC: How has your experience related to your studies at the Bank Street College of Education?
CB: This internship has provided an avenue to apply what I have learned and observed in my graduate program at Bank Street. I have come to better understand the role of the museum educator, as well as the ways in which schools and museums can partner to create valuable and meaningful experiences for our students.
EC: What are your plans after graduation?
CB: I am committed to pursuing a career involving museum education. Thanks to my experience at the CFAF and my studies at Bank Street, I am excited about future possibilities in this field.
There are many ways to get involved with CFAF, including volunteering and interning. CFAF will be holding its first annual Guess-A-Sketch! A Benefit for the Center for Architecture Foundation on 5.22.2012 at the Center for Architecture. For more information, please visit www.cfafoundation.org.