Faculty & Student Resources
GW faculty and students from all disciplines are encouraged to use our collections, educational programs and professional expertise to support their teaching, learning and career development. Collaborate with us on gallery visits, object-based learning and research, student- and faculty-driven events, and projects inspired by the museum collections.
Gallery Visits
You can arrange a group visit to our galleries to explore current exhibitions and study works on view. Guided tours are available by appointment. Please reach out to our Education Department for advice on class visits and assignments.
Research Center Appointments
Students and faculty have access to tens of thousands of artworks and artifacts beyond what is on display in the galleries. Contact us to schedule a class visit to our research centers at the museum on the Foggy Bottom campus, and to our collections center on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus.
- Arthur D. Jenkins Library
Non-circulating research library focused on textiles, fashion, design and global traditions.
Please note: The library is temporarily closed through the summer for renovations. During this time, library services and resources are not available. We look forward to welcoming you back in fall 2024.
Contact: Tracy Meserve, [email protected]
Location: Foggy Bottom Campus, the museum at 701 21st St. NW
- Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center
Study collection of 4,000 global textile fragments ranging from antiquity to contemporary art.
Contact: Karthika Audinet, [email protected]
Location: Foggy Bottom Campus, the museum at 701 21st St. NW
- Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies
Study collection of maps, prints, newspapers and ephemera, as well as a non-circulating research library, focused on D.C. history.
Contact: Kasey Sease, [email protected]
Location: Foggy Bottom Campus, the museum at 701 21st St. NW
- Avenir Conservation and Collections Resource Center
Storage, conservation and care for The Textile Museum Collection and GW’s art collection.
Contact: [email protected]
Location: Virginia Science and Technology Campus
Student Opportunities
Textile Research Day
Students present and network with professionals in the fields of decorative arts, art history and museum studies in this annual spring event.
Evolution D.C. Blog
Students publish original research on the history and development of the nation’s capital on the museum's Evolution D.C. blog.
Work with Us
The museum provides GW students with professional development opportunities through part-time paid positions that provide hands-on learning and career training.
Propose an Event
Student groups can propose a cultural or arts-related event to be hosted at the museum during public hours.
Faculty Opportunities
Faculty from across the GW community can partner with us on unique projects to enhance teaching, research and professional growth. Contact Lori Kartchner, curator of education, to begin a conversation about your idea.
Faculty-led programs
Jennifer Brinkerhoff from GW’s Diaspora Program in the Elliott School of International Affairs partnered with the museum to bring diaspora research to a broader public through educational programs and a published catalog in support of the exhibition Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora.
Exhibition design
Graduate students in visiting professor Barbara Brennan’s exhibition design course at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design collaborated with curators to gain practical experience designing an exhibition with real artworks in mind.
Curatorial experience
Undergraduate students in Professor Denver Brunsman’s advanced history course helped curate the exhibition George Washington and His World, working with Assistant Curator Jackie Streker to select, research and write labels for the objects on display.
Creative projects
Students and alumni from the New Media Photojournalism program at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design produced short films about cotton, wool and other textile materials and techniques for the museum’s interactive Textiles 101 gallery.
Exhibition research
Inspired by professor Bibiana Obler’s exhibition and courses on Fast Fashion/Slow Art, students and staff from GW’s Office of Sustainability and the Corcoran School joined with the museum to develop educational programming on campus focused on sustainability in the textile industry.