The Columbus Museum's Impact Extends Far Beyond Their Gallery Walls: Here's How You Can Support Their Work This Year
- TheColumbusite
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Written by Carrie Beth Wallace
Images by Morgan Duke
For many young people in Columbus, the museum isn’t just a place to observe art—it’s a place to step into it.
Through the Columbus Museum’s Teen Exhibition Council (TEC), local high school students are invited behind the scenes and into the decision-making process, learning what it means to curate, interpret, and advocate for art in a real-world setting. The program empowers teens to shape exhibitions that reflect their perspectives, ask big questions,
and engage their peers, all while building confidence, critical thinking skills, and a deeper connection to their community.
This is a story about what happens when young people are trusted with creative responsibility—and how The Columbus Museum is helping cultivate the next generation of artists, thinkers, and cultural leaders through their educational programming and outreach efforts.
For Aspen Kingsley, TEC was her first step into the world of museums. "When I joined TEC as a junior in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up," Kingsley explained. "Over the next six months, I met several members of the staff who explained their roles in the Museum. From curation to building exhibitions, I suddenly wanted to do it all."
The experience led Kingsley to dig deeper into learning everything she could about careers in the museum world.
"I walked away from TEC with the passion to pursue a career in the arts," she said. "Now, I'm getting my degree in Art Education at Columbus State University. I'm studying art history abroad in Italy this summer. Two years ago, I never would have expected my life and studies to pan out this way, but I am so glad they did."
Kingsley is one of many students who The Columbus Museum's programming impacts every day. From hosting groundbreaking exhibitions to creating educational materials for teachers and hosting field trips, artist talks, and countless hours of other educational programming every season, The Columbus Museum is a place where learning happens year round for visitors of all ages.
The Museum's impact has been recognized numerous times by organizations across the Southeast and beyond. Their recent renovation and success earned them USA Today's Best New Museum Award earlier this year, and just this month they were notified as a recipient of this year's Best in Georgia Awards.
What makes it all possible? You.
Programs like the Teen Exhibition Council—and the life-changing experiences they create—are sustained through philanthropic support from individuals, families, and organizations who understand that investing in the arts is an investment in young people and in Columbus, Georgia’s future. Every exhibition explored, every student mentored, and every spark of curiosity ignited is made possible because of that generosity.
As the year comes to a close, consider being a part of this impact through year-end giving. Your support helps ensure that programs like TEC continue to open doors, shape futures, and create meaningful access to the arts for generations to come. In giving to The Columbus Museum, you’re not just supporting a cultural institution—you’re helping young people step into possibility and shaping their potential impact on generations for decades to come. ◼️
