Summer Bridge Spotlight: Andrés Martínez Ruiz
Meet Andrés Martínez Ruiz, one of five participants selected for the 2024 Summer Bridge program. A PhD student in Art Education, Andrés worked with Krannert Art Museum.
How have you applied your humanistic training to advance the mission of the community organization?
My training and previous experience with other art institutions and organizations have given me a general overview of the possibilities of action at different scales and contexts. Working with the Community Engagement and Learning department at the Krannert Art Museum has allowed me to see how a highly organized institution works, which also has at its core the intention of establishing mutual learning dialogues with a diverse community to generate new perspectives and access. That intention resonates deeply with the way in which I, as an artist and teacher, understand the pedagogical practice that art enables. The dialogue with the Community Engagement and Learning team has been a prolific exchange on the challenges of an art museum facing issues of social justice, diversity, and accessibility. It has been a significant learning experience for me.
How has this experience contributed to your career development? What skills have you gained or developed?
This is my first time working for an art institution of this scale. Attending the meetings of the different departments and seeing how all the processes carried out by the museum are coordinated work between different teams has given me a new organizational perspective that I could eventually explore in other contexts. The dialogue with the Community Engagement and Learning team has expanded my knowledge of exhibition management, communication and dissemination, and educational program development. My academic research has also been enriched. Another fundamental point of this experience has been the approach to the local context. As university students, our world is often reduced to the campus, and our interactions are limited to the academic field. The HWW Summer Bridge provides the opportunity to expand that exchange. Working for the museum has shown me a local context that I was not familiar with.
What have you learned from working with this community organization?
Working with the Krannert Art Museum has given me a broad understanding of how cultural institutions work and how they can positively influence the community. Museums can be spaces for community gathering and learning, and the Krannert Art Museum actively works to be accessible and inclusive. I have also learned how interdisciplinary collaboration can enrich the educational projects of an art institution. Thinking about art as a mutable cultural construction allows us to offer more complete and relevant experiences for a broader audience.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your Summer Bridge program experience?
I want to add that the program has provided me with a valuable network of contacts, connecting me with other people who are also passionate about the confluence of artistic and pedagogical practice. These connections have been enriching both professionally and personally, offering me mentorship and ongoing support. I really appreciate this.