The College of Charleston Summer Study Fellowship with Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City gave Megan Schaeffer ’13 the opportunity visit more than 50 art galleries, meet people from around the world, and become a more well-rounded arts manager.

“I’ve learned more about what I am interested in within the realm of visual art,” Schaeffer explains. “It has been so fantastic to see artworks in person that I have only seen in presentation slides up to this point. I’ve also really enjoyed making friends from countries I really did not know much about. I’ve made good friends from Austria, Israel, London, Mexico City, and more.”

The Summer Study Fellowship, now in its third year, gives an exceptional junior or senior in the Arts Management program the opportunity to take two tuition-free courses at Sotheby’s during the Institute’s summer session. Find out more.

Schaeffer began her adventure as a College of Charleston Summer Study Fellow in June with a course focusing on curatorial studies, and continued in July with a course about gallery management. It was through these classes Schaeffer was able to more than 50 art galleries in which she had the remarkable opportunity to see artwork right in front of her eyes that she had only seen before in presentation slides.

“In these visits, we had the opportunity to speak with the curators, exhibition designers, and directors of some of the most prominent art institutions and galleries in New York,” says Schaeffer.

Schaeffer not only took classes during her time in New York, but she also helped to build and open the Artist & Craftsman Supply store in Harlem. Schaeffer has worked at Artist & Craftsman Supply’s location in Charleston, and thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the store in an entirely different atmosphere.

Schaeffer greatly appreciates and values the phenomenal experiences she’s had in New York City, but she is far from calling the Big Apple her home.

“New York City is overflowing with great food, plenty of culture, music, art, and opportunity. It is also noisy, smelly, overcrowded, and constantly moving with no sign of slowing down.  I have loved my time here, and I think two months is just enough for me,” explains Schaeffer.

Just as she did when she began her education at the College, Schaeffer will be returning to Charleston in the fall—but this time to use the skills and experiences she has gained as a Summer Study Fellow to enter the arts management world full-force.

Reach Megan Schaeffer at mhschaef@g.cofc.edu.