Callie Smith Appointed Educator and Public Programs Manager at LSU Museum of Art

Baton Rouge, LA – [June 2024] –The LSU Museum of Art is excited to announce the recent appointment of Callie Smith as the new Educator and Public Programs Manager. Located in the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, the museum welcomes Smith's passion for education, research, and the arts.

Smith's extensive career in museum education began at the Hilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL), where she served as Museum Educator and Education Assistant. Her tenure there was marked by numerous successful programs and partnerships. She collaborated with public schools and the Acadiana Center for the Arts to create and facilitate activities and tours for over 2,000 fifth-grade students annually. Smith’s work included developing curriculum, training teaching artists, and managing budgets, demonstrating her capacity for leadership and organizational excellence.

Smith also spearheaded collaborative efforts with university faculty, local museums, and community organizations to provide enriching learning and research opportunities. Notably, she was instrumental in a partnership with the ULL College of Education, the Lafayette Science Museum, and the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, offering free museum experiences to international students and their families.

In her role at the Hilliard Art Museum, Smith mentored graduate students, led professional development for educators, and actively participated in national and state art education associations. Her leadership and advocacy for culturally responsive teaching, inclusion, and equity have been central to her approach.

Smith’s expertise in exhibition development and interpretation is evident through her collaboration with curators to produce the museum’s annual exhibitions. Her initiatives included the creation of interactive spaces and the establishment of a pollinator garden to integrate art and science, securing grant funding and managing volunteers for the project.

Smith holds a PhD in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Arkansas, and a BA in English Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is also the editor of Viewfinder: Reflecting on Museum Education, a board member of the Louisiana Art Education Association, and a former podcast host for the New Books Network.

As the Educator and Public Programs Manager at the LSU Museum of Art, Smith will develop, manage, and implement a cohesive group of education programs linking school and community audiences of all ages with the museum’s collections and exhibitions. This position is pivotal in furthering the museum’s mission to inspire and engage both LSU students and the community through art and cultural experiences. Smith will work closely with the curator and key staff members to manage public programs, including the museum's Neighborhood Arts Project. She follows the former museum educator Brandon V. Lewis, who resigned this spring to assume a new role as Director for The Helis Foundation John Scott Center in New Orleans.

“We are thrilled to welcome Callie Smith to the LSU Museum of Art,” said Mark Tullos, Executive Director of the LSU Museum of Art. “Her dynamic background and commitment to educational excellence and community engagement align perfectly with our mission to make art accessible and meaningful to all.”

Callie Smith will start this position Monday, June 17, 2024 at the LSU Museum of Art. For further information, please contact: Sarah Amacker, LSU Museum of Art Marketing and Communications Specialist at samacker1@lsu.edu

Visit LSU Museum of Art’s Facebook and Instagram pages @lsumoa regularly for program announcements and exhibition updates.

ABOUT LSU MUSEUM OF ART

LSU Museum of Art is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. LSU Museum of Art is supported in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President & Metro Council. Funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding for the 2023 Emergency Planning Grant has been provided by the State of Louisiana and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support is provided by generous donors to the LSU Museum of Art Annual Exhibition Fund. Free admission for Toddler Thursday is sponsored by the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

VISITOR INFORMATION

The museum is located in downtown Baton Rouge at 100 Lafayette Street on the Fifth Floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts. General admission is $5 each for adults and children age 13 and over. Admission is free to university faculty and students with ID, children age 12 and under, and museum members. Active-duty military and veterans, first responders, and their families receive free admission with ID as part of the Blue Star Museums program. Show your EBT card and photo ID at the admissions desk and receive free admission for up to 4 individuals as part of the Museums for All initiative. Museum Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.; and closed on Mondays and major holidays. Free admission occurs on the first Sunday of each month and every Friday night from 5-8 p.m. For more information: visit www.lsumoa.org, call 225-578-3000, and follow the museum on social media @lsumoa for exhibition and program updates.