The Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture supports UW–Madison student experiences through a number of opportunities. Focused on our pillars, the study of textiles, material culture, and design, the center offers Project Assistantships and fellowships, as well as student hourly appointments as gallery assistants, collections assistants, exhibition prep assistants, and more. We also support student research through course engagements, research visits, and curatorial experiences as a hands-on “museum lab.”
Explore the resources and engagement opportunities available below and reach out if you have questions.
Student Employment
In addition to having full-time staff, the center also offers student hourly employment, fellowships, and other opportunities to engage with the center. These are hands-on opportunities for professional experience in a museum setting. Positions include collections assistant, gallery assistant, program assistant, exhibition prep assistant, curatorial assistant, and more.
Fellowships
The center offers fellowship programs aimed to strengthen and promote research on our three pillars – the study of textiles, material culture, and design. These programs support graduate and undergraduate research, and connect students with the center and UW–Madison campus resources in support of shared research goals.
Graduate Affiliate Program
The center is piloting a new Graduate Affiliate program for enrolled UW–Madison students. We review affiliate applications on September 30 for fall semester and January 30 for spring semester each academic year. Click to learn more.
Request a Research Visit
The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection is a global, teaching collection of over 13,000 objects. Many courses taught at UW–Madison visit the collection. In addition to these visits, students may request a research visit for larger scale projects or deeper investigation related to their research at UW–Madison. Request a visit and begin a conversation with collection staff.
Material Culture Workshop
Throughout the academic year, the center hosts a monthly workshop to promote an interdisciplinary dialogue around the study of material culture on the UW–Madison campus. The workshop is open to methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of material culture across disciplines, geographical areas, and chronological periods. We welcome faculty, curators, researchers, and students who are committed to the study of material culture. Each session focuses on specific themes and involves presentations and discussions but can also include museum object viewing sessions and studio visits.
Exhibitions On View
We welcome thousands of visitors each year to the Ruth Davis Design Gallery and Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery. Both galleries have rotating exhibitions throughout the academic year that offer many course connections. We also curate displays throughout Nancy Nicholas Hall! Check out our exhibition calendar to see what's on view.
Events Calendar
Through the center and in partnership with many collaborators, we offer lectures, workshops, symposia, and other events and programs. These are offered in conjunction with our exhibitions or other research projects throughout the year. Watch our events calendar or sign-up for our newsletter to stay connected.
Watch a Recorded Lecture
The center regularly hosts public lectures on campus and virtually for students, faculty, staff, scholars, and community members. The dates and times for these lectures vary, but many of them are recorded and published on the center's Kaltura Channel to be used long after the event. Students are welcome to watch these past events.
Listen to Radio Chipstone
Radio Chipstone is a material culture radio show hosted by Gianofer Fields in collaboration between the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design & Material Culture and the Chipstone Foundation, a decorative arts organization whose mission is preserving and interpreting their collection and stimulating research and education in the decorative arts.
Stream the Refrangible Podcast
Hosted by Gianofer Fields. "Refrangible: A Podcast from the Center for Design & Material Culture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison", is a headfirst dive into stories about the things we make, use, save and carry, and what it tells us about our world. Listen to all three seasons here, or wherever you get your podcasts.