Congratulations, and Welcome to
The Winterthur Institute 2024 cohort!

It is our pleasure to welcome you to Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, and the learning journey we will create together. For my part, I look forward to meeting you in-person in April, facilitating an outstanding experience for and with you, and being your point of contact from now until you arrive on campus.

The Winterthur Institute portal will be our communication hub, and can now be accessed only by the cohort. Please do not share your unique login and password with others. You will see at About the Institute/Accommodations Near Winterthur, important travel and arrival information. It is your responsibility to make the arrangements, although I am very happy to answer any questions you may have about the area. Please plan to arrive in time for orientation dinner at 5pm on Sunday, April 7, 2024, and to enjoy the daytime and select evening access to the museum, library, and serene surroundings of the estate while participating in various educational and social activities through April 19.

A Suggested Reading List has been posted for studying historical time periods, materials, du Pont history, and the museum practices we will explore in detail during Winterthur Institute. Please feel free to refer to the resources on the Suggested Reading List (especially the Winterthur playlists!) as optional reading. In February 2024, instructors may recommend required readings related to specific topics.

In preparation for your arrival, I am preparing the documents you will need to complete for badge access to the collections spaces, classrooms, staff offices, and research buildings of Winterthur. All will be available to you! I am thoughtfully filling your learning kits with the preservation supplies you will need for close and careful study during workshops. Be ready for some fun creative sessions too as we explore artisanship with historic tools and techniques. More about all this will be posted here on February 1, 2024.

In the meanwhile, feel free to reach out directly to me with any questions. Winterthur Institute 2024 promises to be a dynamic and collaborative gathering, and I am excited for all you are bringing to the cohort and what we will accomplish.

Kindly,

Stephenie Bailey
Manager of Continuing Education and Winterthur Institute
sbaile@winterthur.org
302.888.4894

Photo, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

Upon completion of Winterthur Institute, participants will have gained:

  • historical knowledge of the decorative arts and techniques of cultural analysis, which define the relationship of an object to its time.
  • competency in handling collections objects, and preservation best practices that benefit
    career skill sets.
  • an understanding of sense of place while studying at the former du Pont family
    historic home and estate.
  • 70 hours of professional development in key skills and knowledge for cultural heritage study.
  • the support of the Winterthur Institute learning community.
  • a Certificate of Completion.

See Topics-at-a-Glance

Winterthur Institute learners:

  • Photo, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

    seek to deepen their knowledge of the history of decorative arts in America.

  • want to further develop their professional skill set through unparalleled hands-on exercises in object identification and care within a museum context.
  • have academic or experiential credentials that prepare them to participate in advanced study.
  • appreciate in-person instruction supplemented by small-group seminars with a Winterthur curator or staff expert, as well as self-study via virtual resources.
  • desire to study objects beyond their traditional
    narratives, while participating in comprehensive inquiry and conversation.
  • engage in a collaborative and inquisitive learning journey with the cohort, as part of an immersive experience that is respectful of each participant’s perspective and identity.

Sessions of Winterthur Institute April 8–19, 2024, are weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm and include:

  • morning presentations by Winterthur specialists and experts in cultural heritage in the
    Museum Rotunda.
  • afternoon small-group seminars with curators and staff professionals in the rooms of Henry Francis du Pont’s former 175-room home, conservation lab, library and archives, or classroom.
  • tours highlighting the museum exhibition galleries and estate.
  • a unique Create-Your-Own-Experience session with a Winterthur resource.
  • optional handicraft workshops and guided walks through Winterthur’s 60-acre naturalistic garden.
  • professional networking opportunities with the Winterthur Institute cohort, past and present.

The weekend emphasizes experiential learning that explores the relationships between the visual arts and defined spaces, including:

Participants must commit to the entire two-weeks of Winterthur Institute.

Important Upcoming dates:

  • February 1: Additional updates to platform
  • April 7: Orientation and Welcome Dinner
  • April 8 at 9 am: Start of Winterthur Institute
  • April 19 at 3 pm: Farewell lunch, presentation of research project, and end of Winterthur Institute