Discover Your Art Museum

8 FAQs for UVA Students

Artist Damien Shen teaches UVA students drawing.

Kaitlyn LaGrasta (CLAS 2016) stands in front of a painted rock in the UVA art museums art storage facility as part of a research project. Photo by Tom Cogill.

UVA students help install an artwork on UVA Grounds by acclaimed Aboriginal artist Vernon Ah Kee.

UVA student Annalee Jackson teaches a plein-air painting workshop at Kluge-Ruhe has part of her internship.

Thomas ES Kelly teaches UVA students Indigenous dance moves.

Students discuss a painting by Harry Tjutjuna in Kluge-Ruhe's on-site art storage.

Djambawa Marawili AM discusses his creative practice with UVA students. Photo by Tom Cogill.

Torres Strait artist David Bosun proofs linoprints he made in collaboration with UVA students. Photo by Tom Cogill.

UVA students give a tour of their class-curated exhibition at Kluge-Ruhe. Photo by Tom Cogill.

A Sorry Wall developed for the 2017 Tom Tom Founders Festival by a UVA student during her internship.

How can I know what’s going on at Kluge-Ruhe?

Become a member of the museum! Membership is free for UVA students, all we need is your email address. You’ll be added to our mailing list, get Kluge-Ruhe swag if you want it, and be invited to all of the members-only opportunities. We only send a few emails per month.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A STUDENT MEMBER.

You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram: @klugeruhe

Are there classes on Indigenous Australian art and culture at UVA?

Yes! Look for courses in SIS taught by our curator Henry Skerritt. They are cross-listed under Art History and Anthropology. Past classes include: How Aboriginal People Invented the Idea of Contemporary Art; Aboriginal Art and Culture; and Sex, Spirits and Sorcery. There is also a six-credit Museum Internship course; learn more below.

Where is Kluge-Ruhe?

We have a beautiful location with mountain views on the east side of Charlottesville, less than 5 miles from UVA Grounds on Pantops mountain. Click here to learn how to get here.

We’re the only museum in the USA dedicated to Indigenous Australian art so Kluge-Ruhe is a really nice place to bring your parents or friends when they visit Charlottesville.

What does the museum do on Grounds?

We often have an exhibition of Aboriginal art on Grounds, and we sometimes have artworks from our collection on view at The Fralin Museum of Art. We also host symposia, lectures and exhibitions on Grounds on a regular basis. Indigenous artists guest-lecture in UVA classes every semester. Check out our calendar to see what’s happening right now.

What internships do you offer?

University Museums Internship: This is a two-semester six-credit course at UVA that features an academic curriculum in Museum Studies organized by Academic Curator Jordan Love, as well as the opportunity to intern at Kluge-Ruhe or the Fralin Museum of Art. Students apply for entrance to the course every Spring semester during the pre-registration period (ARTH 4951-4952/GDS 4951-4952).

How else can I get involved?

Volunteer: The museum has a robust volunteer program and we welcome students who can make a commitment of at least one year. Learn more about volunteering here.

Become a Student Ambassador: Because the museum is not on Grounds, it remains unknown to many UVA students. Help us get the word out by becoming a Kluge-Ruhe Ambassador! This role involves publicizing Kluge-Ruhe to peers by distributing the museum’s swag, encouraging visits to Kluge-Ruhe, flyering posters for programs on Grounds and sharing the museum’s social media posts widely. Contact Lauren Maupin at ldm3d@virginia.edu if interested.

Can my CIO, sorority, fraternity or club get a tour of Kluge-Ruhe?

Yes! Tours for UVA groups are free. Groups can join one of the free daily tours at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm, or you can contact us to schedule a special tour.

What have other students said about Kluge-Ruhe?

“I get to engage with people from all walks of life whom I may not have met otherwise.” – Victoria Armstrong, COL 2018

“The Kluge-Ruhe education internship has been the gold standard of my working experiences. As one of my first major jobs, the leadership and work environment were crucial to my experience. Now that I’m in new working environments 4-5 years later, I have high expectations for what it should look and feel like to learn in a professional role thanks to the team at Kluge-Ruhe. The education team has an amazing capability to make their thinking and decision making visible. I learned so much that I would have never known to ask due to their commitment to transparency in their leadership.” – Annalee Jackson, COL 2018

“In Fall 2017 I was able to interview Julie Gough about her experience exhibiting her art in museums. She discussed with me how she feels as a contemporary artist who is often put into unwelcome categories by museum institutions. It was really impactful to hear her experience and learn what she wants out of a museum. As someone who wants to work in museums and work with indigenous artists, it was extremely insightful and I am really appreciative of that opportunity.” – Hannah Hicks, COL 2018

“Kluge-Ruhe has been the thread throughout my career that has never broken” – Charlotte Barstow, COL 2017

“Working with the Collection provided hands on experience and knowledge that I continue to cultivate in my daily life. I currently work as Collections Manager at University of Mary Washington Galleries (Fredericksburg) and as Educator and Visitor Services Associate at The Valentine (Richmond). Whether I am cataloguing and caring for the works in UMW’s collection or leading an educational outreach program for The Valentine, I interweave that which I learned from Kluge-Ruhe. The multifaceted internship at Kluge-Ruhe helped me gain a better understanding of Collections, Exhibition Planning/Curating, Education, and the daily workings of a museum. Kluge-Ruhe not only opened my eyes to the individual and collective efforts in such a setting but also the complexity and creativity of Aboriginal cultures.” – Elena Dennie, COL 2014