Arts and Culture

Washington University Libraries created exhibits in conjunction with a series of related events focusing on the history of slavery and the stories of enslaved individuals in St. Louis. The Slavery in St. Louis exhibition and the Archives of Resistance Event Series highlight primary source documents from the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections at University Libraries. A related display of Black Numismatics will be on display in the exhibition Coins Across Time: Ancient to American Numismatics. The exhibit and events arise from the WashU & Saver Project’s efforts to examine and address WashU’s historical entanglements with slavery, which include foundational research with contextualization of relevant collections in the library archives.

Revisit and reconstruct the history of Asian Americans in St. Louis utilizing an intuitive digital humanities tool, ArcGIS StoryMap. The story map, called Asia in Saint Louis, comprises images, interactive maps, narratives, and interview videos, and is conceptualized and structured around the four themes/sections: Historical traces, early Chinese Americans, early Japanese Americans, and Asian American civil rights. The story map will use primary sources from four local historical societies and archives: Washington University Libraries Special Collections, Missouri Historical Society, State Historical Society of Missouri-Saint Louis, and National Archives in Kansas City.

CityStudioSTL from the Sam Fox School at WashU supports a number of community engagement, student enrichment, and collaborations that bring students and faculty from different fields together with community partners. Fellowships support students in architecture, art, and design partnering with those in the St. Louis community to conceive, plan, design, and construct projects for local community groups and residents. Faculty can also receive support for community engaged scholarship and courses.

The Resilient Cities initiative from Sam Fox School engages the St. Louis community regarding complex issues of environmental and social resiliency. Current projects focus on the establishment of Peace Park in the College Hill neighborhood and engagement with the Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) Brickline Greenway Project.

Since 1986, Sam Fox has partnered with the Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters of University City to share their artwork with their community. For students, this poses an opportunity to explore the social aspects of University City and the civic responsibilities of being an artist.

Established in 1881, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum serves both WashU students and St. Louis residents as the one of the oldest teaching museums in the country. Through numerous and diverse programs and exhibitions, the Kemper Art Museum vast collection allows residents to peer into diverse artwork both in-person and virtual at little cost.

As a part of WashU’s first-year student orientation, called Bear Beginnings, WashU offers “In The Lou” experiences to provide students with opportunities to explore St. Louis and immerse themselves in the rich culture and experiences that that the region has to offer.

The Washington University Libraries are a network of academic resources featuring nine libraries (seven locations on the Danforth Campus, one at West Campus, and one at the Medical School); vast print and electronic collections; and expert librarians whose first priority is helping students and faculty find the information they need. Libraries and exhibits are open to the public.

The St. Louis Fellows Program offers a 6-month civic leadership training to undergraduates who dedicate their summer to St. Louis. Students engage in an experiential curriculum to explore St. Louis’ history, culture, politics, challenges, and opportunities, and contribute to mission-critical work in the region through full-time nonprofit or civic internships.

The Civic Fellows Program is a 14-month civic leadership training with academic coursework and experiential learning, open for first-year and sophomore students to apply and earn eight course credits. It includes immersive opportunities in St. Louis and Washington DC to engage with local neighborhoods, the policy-making process, and civic change efforts in the region and across the country. During the summer, students engage in a Civic Summer project through a nonprofit internship or self-designed civic impact project that often takes place in partnership with St. Louis civic and community organizations.