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Copyright by Sarah Alynne Chestnut 2020 The Thesis Committee for Sarah Alynne Chestnut Certifies that this is the approved version of the following thesis: A Closer Look at Art Abroad: A Study of the Terra Foundation for American Art’s Educational Programming for International Audiences APPROVED BY SUPERVISING COMMITTEE: Christina Bain, Supervisor Paul E. Bolin A Closer Look at Art Abroad: A Study of the Terra Foundation for American Art’s Educational Programming for International Audiences by Sarah Alynne Chestnut Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts The University of Texas at Austin August 2020 Dedication To Tyler, who moved halfway around the world with our terrible cat to help support me in this process and was crazy enough to marry me along the way. And to all those who care enough about our world to share art with a stranger, with hope that doing so helps make this life a little less strange. Acknowledgements This project would not have been possible without the infinite patience and support of my exceptional thesis committee. Thank you to Dr. Paul Bolin for your unsurpassed wisdom and guidance throughout this process and thank you to Dr. Christina Bain for your constant advocacy of my abilities and encouragement through the ups and the downs. I feel truly blessed to count you each as mentors in the field as well as in life. Thank you to the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin’s Art Education Program for modeling the skills and values necessary to be a great art educator and for welcoming me with open arms into the community. Thank you as well to those outside the program who accepted me into their classrooms, offices, and gallery spaces. You provided inspiration and assistance in my journey to discover the unique intersections with art and education that matter most to me. Also, thank you to the Department of Art and Art History for awarding the scholarships which enabled my research. I am forever grateful to the staff of the Terra Foundation for American Art for their willingness to support me in this endeavor. Thank you for sharing your history, resources, knowledge, experiences, and insights with me. This project, as well as many others around the world that champion cross-cultural exchange and understanding through art, would not be possible without your efforts. Lastly, I would like to say a big thank you to my family, friends, and cohort who supported me throughout this entire process and beyond. Your belief in me and my passions is nothing short of transformative. v Abstract A Closer Look at Art Abroad: A Study of the Terra Foundation for American Art’s Educational Programming for International Audiences Sarah Alynne Chestnut, M.A. The University of Texas at Austin, 2020 Supervisor: Christina Bain This case study explores the educational offerings intended for international audiences through the work of the Terra Foundation for American Art. Founded by wealthy Chicago businessman, art collector, and U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cultural Affairs Daniel J. Terra in 1978, the Terra Foundation has paved the way for scholarly investigation and appreciation of historical art of the United States on a global scale. The foundation’s art collection was once displayed among several dedicated art museums spanning two continents (in the United States and France), however at the turn of the millennium, the foundation pivoted to a “museum without walls” model and now facilitates the exhibition of their artwork by collaborating with museums around the world. Through a combination of historical research, site observations in both Chicago and Paris, and interviews with key staff members on both continents, this study provides vi a greater holistic understanding of the challenges and motivations at play for all sectors engaged in international cultural exchange. This qualitative research study reveals implications for art and museum educators, as well as stakeholders invested in international cultural exchange and diplomacy, which point to a need for greater awareness of the dialogues and narratives around historical American art and culture unfolding outside the United States. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations are made for practitioners that address issues of language, audience, and cultural assumptions. vii Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Central Research Question ..........................................................................................4 Problem Statement ......................................................................................................4 Research Methodology ...............................................................................................6 Motivations for Research ............................................................................................7 Personal Motivations ......................................................................................7 Professional Motivations ................................................................................8 Limitations of the Study ...........................................................................................10 Significance to the Field ...........................................................................................11 Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................12 Looking Ahead .........................................................................................................12 Chapter 2: Review of Literature ........................................................................................14 Introduction ...............................................................................................................14 Topic I: A History of Philantrhopic Support for Scholarship in Pre-WWII American Art History .........................................................................................14 Wyeth Foundation for American Art ............................................................15 Henry Luce Foundation ................................................................................19 Terra Foundation for American Art ..............................................................21 Topic II: The Visual Arts in U.S. International Cultural Diplomacy .......................23 A History of Government-Sponsored Cultural Diplomacy ..........................23 Public and Private Funding for the Exhibition of U.S. Visual Art Abroad ..26 Present-Day Trends .......................................................................................33 viii Topic III: The Educational Role of Public Art Museums .........................................33 Serving Objects and People ..........................................................................34 Museum Education as a Pedagogical Approach ...........................................38 Museums as Part of Cultural Diplomacy ......................................................40 International Trends in Contemporary Museum Education ..........................41 Conclusion ................................................................................................................45 Chapter 3: A History of the Terra Foundation for American Art and its Founder ............46 Introduction ...............................................................................................................46 Daniel J. Terra's Early Life and Career ....................................................................46 Lifelong Interest in the Arts ......................................................................................48 Political Involvement ................................................................................................50 Opening of the Terra Museum of American Art ......................................................53 Making Moves in Chicago ........................................................................................57 Aspirations in Giverny ..............................................................................................62 The End of an Era .....................................................................................................68 Conclusion ................................................................................................................71 Chapter 4: The Terra Foundation for American Art in the New Millennia .......................74 Introduction ...............................................................................................................74 A New Chapter .........................................................................................................75 Expanded Outreach ...................................................................................................76 A True Museum Without Walls ................................................................................78 Methodology .............................................................................................................82 Case Study Methodology ..............................................................................82 ix Qualitative Research .....................................................................................83