Hello from a Hardie Fellow

A quick post before I go

G’day, I’m Ruby, an educator from Lutruwita/Tasmania.

I’m about to head to the US for 2 months on a Hardie Fellowship to study how museum and gallery learning programs can enrich the curriculum. I’m going to visit some of the world’s leading cultural institutions to find out how these places can foster curiosity, creativity, connection and empathy in our young people.

Hardie Fellowship 2023-24 recipients

Key questions I want to explore:

• How can cultural institutions work with school systems to provide meaningful, memorable and joyful learning experiences for young people?

• How can engagement with art and cultural heritage objects develop empathy and critical and creative thinking skills in young people?

• How can museums function as places for young people to engage with difficult heritage and contested histories, like First Nations truth-telling?

• How can innovative digital technologies be used by museums to increase engagement, access and participation for diverse learners?

Places I’ll visit

Top 5 things I’m looking forward to:

1. ‘Connecting Collections’ course for educators co-delivered by The Met, MoMA and Guggenheim

2. ‘Project Zero Classroom’ course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

3. Visiting the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center to see the virtual survivor hologram interviews

4. ‘Teaching Humanities Through Art’ course for educators delivered by the Smithsonian American Art Museum

5. NYC Pride!

More soon. In the meantime, share some words of wisdom or ask me a question by dropping a comment on this post. What more do you want to know?

R