Art Study Center | Harvard Art Museums

Because the Harvard Art Museums are temporarily closed to the public as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, access to the Art Study Center is limited to Harvard faculty at this time. Beginning on October 13, 2020, Harvard faculty should use the form below to request an appointment. Appointments will be available Monday through Thursday between 10am and 3pm. Two weeks’ notice is required for scheduling. Visits will be limited in duration in order to observe health and safety measures. Specific protocols and procedures will be shared prior to any appointments. Object handling may not be available and/or restricted at this time. Harvard University continues to monitor the evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and prioritize the safety of our visitors, staff, students, and volunteers. Please review the University’s latest policies and procedures.

Unique in size and scope among North American museums, the expansive Art Study Center allows visitors to request objects not currently on display in the galleries, facilitating self-directed teaching and learning from works in all media. Visitors can study John Singer Sargent’s working process as documented in his drawings, marvel at a ceramic drinking vessel from ancient Greece, or learn about early photographic processes by examining a nineteenth-century daguerreotype.

Housed under the museums’ glass rooftop, this space receives controlled natural light—ideal for the kind of close looking that happens here. With individual centers dedicated to each of the three museums (Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, and Arthur M. Sackler Museum) and four seminar rooms, the Art Study Center encourages extended interactions with original works of art.

In addition to providing access to the museums’ collections, the Art Study Center is also a venue where visitors can call upon the expertise of the museums’ curators, conservators, and educators.

1. Select a Date

Preference No. 1

Preference No. 2

Preference No. 3

2. Select Purpose of Visit

Study Class Visit

If you require object files, they are available to view by appointment only through the relevant curatorial office.

3. Select Artwork to be Viewed

If you would like to request multiple objects, we recommend registering as a user and building a collection.

Enter an Object Number

Add

4. Enter Your Contact Information

First Name*

Last Name*

Organization

Email*

Confirm Email*

Phone Number*

City*

State

Country*

5. Additional Notes

Please use this field to share with us any relevant information about your goals for your upcoming study visit so we can best prepare the viewing space and artwork.

The Harvard Art Museums is committed to ensuring an accessible and welcoming environment for all visitors. Please view our accessibility policy.

What’s Next

A minimum of two weeks advance notice is required for all Art Study Center appointments. Study and seminar room availability is limited, and we may not be able to accommodate the first choice for appointment. Upon receipt of your request, Art Study Center staff will be in touch to confirm the day, time, and location of your appointment as well as to confirm the availability of the object(s) requested. Art Study Center staff may limit the number of objects available during an appointment due to an object’s size or condition.