Evie McAllister is a graduate student in both history and library and information science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a museum educator and curatorial intern, she leads tours, field trips, and public events for a wide array of audiences and produces curatorial research. This past year, Evie also completed a practicum with Spurlock Museum of World Cultures’ registration department and provided reference work for the University Archives. Her own scholarship explores the intersections of museums, historical narrative, and systems of knowledge, with a particular interest in how museums can become more inclusive, accessible, and socially responsive spaces.
Assistant Director for Community Engagement and Learning Rachel Lauren Storm and Curator of European and American Art Maureen Warren sat down with Graduate Assistant and Curatorial Intern Evie McAllister.
Rachel & Maureen: Evie, tell us a little about yourself and your journey into studying museums.
Evie: When I entered university, I knew I wanted to build a career in the humanities but didn’t know how to fit all my values and passions into one subject. Each field I explored felt too narrow. I wanted to find a field that provided opportunities to engage with a variety of subjects and audiences as well as one that would allow me to share information through a variety of mediums, and museum studies allows that.
Rachel & Maureen: What types of engagement, learning, and curatorial work have you helped make possible in your role at the museum?
Evie: I work with the Community Engagement and Learning team, making space for artistic creation and reflection within our community. We spread awareness that Krannert Art Museum is open to everyone and that anyone can come enjoy what we have to offer. In my position, I get to see many people begin their own journey with art. Whether I am teaching someone to crochet at our Knit & Sit circle in the galleries, facilitating performances at SPEAK Café, or leading tours for first-time visitors, I’m always happy to be a part of their artistic journey. As a curatorial intern this past semester, I have been assisting Maureen Warren and her team with collection development and research for an exhibit that is scheduled for 2028. I have combed through many publications housed in the University of Illinois’ libraries and online for materials related to our topic. We are currently drafting labels for selected works. I am also composing a blog post for Krannert Art Museum’s website.
Rachel & Maureen: How does this work connect with your research and other scholarly work?
Evie: I am a graduate student of information science and history. I focus on the development of cultural awareness and memory, especially in relation to museums and nonverbal communications within them. Literature can only convey so much, so the people at Krannert Art Museum have deepened my understanding of the processes and relations that allow our museum to be what it is.
Rachel & Maureen: Has your experience working at the museum influenced your thinking about museums?
Evie: Since joining Krannert Art Museum, I see museums as entities that are more capable of expanding beyond architectural boundaries than I had previously believed. Outside of the museum proper, Krannert Art Museum engages with our community by promoting and participating in local art festivals, holding occasional appreciation events for arts in the park, and more.
