La Galería is a visual arts exhibition space at UC Merced that supports teaching, research, and creative inquiry across the campus. Through exhibitions, academic engagement, and public programs, La Galería offers opportunities for faculty and students to connect their scholarly and creative work with the visual arts.
This page provides an overview of the ways the campus community can engage with La Galería. If you have an idea, proposal, or question that is not addressed below, we encourage you to reach out.
Contact:
Email us at arts@ucmerced.edu to start a conversation.
Opportunities for Students
Internship in Global Arts (GASP 192)
Students can work at La Galería through the GASP 192: Internship in Global Arts. Internships provide hands-on experience in areas related to exhibitions, collections, public programs, communications, and arts administration, depending on gallery needs and student interests. GASP 192 is typically offered every Fall and Spring semester, and students may enroll multiple times if interested.
Students enrolled in GASP 192 may be matched with La Galería as part of their internship experience. Interested students should consult with the Global Arts Studies Program and may also email arts@ucmerced.edu to learn more about potential opportunities.
Student Volunteering
La Galería also offers volunteer opportunities for UC Merced students interested in gaining experience in the arts and culture sector. Volunteer roles may vary throughout the academic year and can include support for exhibitions, public programs, events, and visitor engagement.
Volunteer opportunities are open to students from all majors and backgrounds – availability is dependent on La Galería's exhibition and programming schedule. Students interested in volunteering are encouraged to email Grace Garnica (Gallery Manager) at ggarnica2@ucmerced.edu with a brief statement of interest.
Opportunities for Faculty
Exhibition Proposals
La Galería welcomes exhibition proposals from UC Merced faculty across disciplines whose work engages the visual arts through a curatorial and/or artistic lens. La Galería is dedicated to presenting exhibitions conceived as works of artistic or curatorial practice, grounded in clear conceptual frameworks and designed for public presentation in an art gallery context.
While many research projects generate compelling visual material, La Galería does not present exhibitions of research documentation or data visualization alone. Proposed exhibitions should be developed with curatorial intent, whether through original artistic production, critical selection and framing of works, or a cohesive curatorial narrative that situates the work within broader artistic, cultural, or theoretical conversations.
Appropriate proposals may include:
- Exhibitions of original artwork by faculty artists
- Curated exhibitiosn organized around artistic, historical, or conceptual themes
- Interdisciplinary projects in which artistic practice or curatorial selection is central
- Exhibitions that meaningfully engage students through research, coursework, or public programs.
Proposals are evaluated and considered for future seasons, and timelines may vary depending on scope and scheduling. Faculty interested in proposing an exhibition are encouraged to email arts@ucmerced.edu with a brief description of their concept.
Teaching with La Galería
Faculty are invited to incorporate La Galería and the UC Merced Permanent Collection into their teaching, and gallery-based engagement can support a wide variety of learning objectives across disciplines.
Possible modes of engagement include:
- Class visits to exhibitions, with facilitated discussion where appropriate
- Object-based learning or collection-focused research projects
- Collaborative projects that connect coursework to exhibitions or artworks on view
- Student response assignments (writing, performance, design, research, or creative work)
UC Merced Arts staff are happy to explore how gallery visits or collection engagement can align with specific course goals. Faculty interested in bringing a class to the gallery can contact arts@ucmerced.edu to begin planning.
