We like to say that museums are only as important as the audience who engages with them, and at the Fleming, our foremost audience is UVM students. Here, the Museum is a place for experimentation and growth, and a space where ideas turn into action. The art in our galleries becomes a lens for almost any conversation you can imagine, across any field of study at UVM. You see it with medical students sharpening their observational skills, future educators developing classroom tools, and student curators designing exhibitions.The Fleming is where learning comes alive and your support helps make that possible.

Here, we center art boldly in learning and conversation. And yet, many of our visitors don’t realize that the Fleming depends on your support to sustain this transformative work. Your generosity directly fuels student internships, free admission, exhibitions, and experiential learning that shapes emerging leaders across disciplines such as: 

• Curated by CATS!: These exhibitions, installations, and/or pop-up exhibits allow UVM students to work directly with museum staff and their professor to curate works from the Fleming's collections for research and public display.

• The Learning Studio: A flexible teaching and learning space available to UVM faculty and students who may request one or a series of works from the collections to be pulled for viewing. At any given time, only about 4% of the collections are on view, and the Learning Studio helps us to not only expand access to them but also to partner with faculty members looking to provide students with primary sources related to a specific theme, region, or time period. 

• Class visits and assignments: From Creative Writing to Herpetology, students across majors explore our galleries for inspiration, information, and firsthand experiences with fine art and cultural heritage objects.

• Internships and work study: The Fleming employs around 50 UVM students a year who work as Welcome Desk, Gallery, and Learning Studio Attendants. We also offer internships in our curatorial, collections, communications, and community engagement departments.

• Community building and well-being: The Museum is a place where campus and the greater Burlington community truly meet. Admission and events are free and open to all. With a cozy lobby, regular coloring hours, and our semi-annual Kickoff parties, the Fleming acts as a invaluable third space where everyone can engage and participate in the arts and build lasting connections. 

These exciting, hands-on opportunities are only possible with support from community members like you. Whether you choose to become a sustaining donor or make a one-time gift, your support of the Fleming expands opportunities for Catamounts to reach beyond the classroom and gain educational and professional experience they won’t find anywhere else on campus.

• $15/month helps ensure free admission for all

• $250 sustains student-centered programming

• $1,000+ underwrites internships, artist talks, and exhibitions

Make your gift today and support future Catamounts