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It is with great pleasure that we announce The Eva Fierst Curatorial Exhibition Fund, a new endowment to support the University Museum of Contemporary Art’s Annual Graduate Student Curatorial Exhibition, which the Museum initiated in 2006.
Eva Fierst was Education Curator at the University Museum of Contemporary Art (UMCA) from 2007 through 2017. As the UMCA’s first Education Curator, she helped further the Museum’s mission to serve as the training ground for future museum and art world professionals, and explored for the Museum new methods of exhibition presentation and interpretation.
Over the years, Eva worked closely with graduate students, faculty, and UMCA staff on the Curatorial Exhibition, which is the culmination of a yearlong independent project conducted by Art History and Studio Arts graduate students. The exhibition features work selected primarily from the UMCA’s permanent collection of over 3000 works of art on paper. Students select a thesis for their exhibition; research objects; write labels, text panels, a press release, an exhibition announcement, and website information; write and submit a grant application; write and design a brochure; help design the exhibition layout and work on the installation; and assist with all other aspects of exhibition development.
This Program’s goal is to deepen students’ understanding of the intellectual and practical tasks of curation in a museum setting. It has provided students with hands on experience and highly valuable skills in the job market. Working together on a collaborative exhibition project opens a breadth of possibilities for Art History and Studio Arts graduate students and provides a greater range of potential careers after school.
The Eva Fierst Curatorial Exhibition Fund, created in Eva's honor will provide funding the UMCA's curatorial program, ensuring the program's ongoing success. You can honor Eva and support The Eva Fierst Curatorial Exhibition Fund by making an online gift or by sending a check payable to UMass/Fierst Curatorial Exhibition Fund to:
UMass Amherst
Records & Gift Processing
Memorial Hall
University of Massachusetts
134 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9270
Thank you for honoring Eva in this way and for your commitment to the University Museum of Contemporary Art.