Meet Mia: Q&A with Bridget Gallagher-Larkin, Student & Teacher Programs Specialist
Meet Mia is a bimonthly series highlighting museum staff—the talented humans who help make Mia a community treasure. Watch for new Q&As in People & Culture.
By Tara Kaushik
July 29, 2025—Bridget Gallagher-Larkin has been recognized in public, on more than one occasion, as “the Art Adventure lady,” a testament to her rock-star-like status among the elementary school set. Drawing on her background as an educator, she assists with the various programs designed to bring art into schools, and students into Mia: Art Adventure, Creativity Academy, and, most recently, Discovery Days.
Speedrun
- Role: Student & Teacher Programs Specialist, Learning & Programming Department
- How long you’ve worked at Mia: Two years
- Favorite artwork in the collection: The Seashore at Sainte-Adresse
- Go-to Eat Street lunch order: Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry from Khun Nai Thai Cuisine
- Social: LinkedIn
What are your first memories of art?
I’m from Mandan, North Dakota, right in the middle of the state, and we don’t have any art museums. But my mom had these art books from when she lived in the Bronx for a couple of years in her 20s, and I remember spending a lot of time as a kid looking through them.
Then, when I was 16, we took a family trip to Washington, D.C., and visited the National Gallery. That was my first experience of being in an art museum. I had never been in a building like that before.
I remember seeing in person some of the works that I used to pore over in those art books. One of them was a Leonardo, and I got way too close to it—a security guard was like, “Ma’am, you need to back up!” That was the best day of the entire trip.
How have your experiences studying art history and working as a second-grade teacher informed the work you do today?
I always say I’m a teacher first, and then my interest in art history follows. In my role, I consider the teacher and student experiences, and I’m constantly looking for ways to improve them both.
Field trips, for example, can be stressful. So I like to ask, what can we do from the moment those teachers walk in the door to ensure a smooth experience?
On the student side, I’m always thinking about learning objectives and asking, “What do I want the students to get from this?” Sometimes it may be as simple as wanting to pique their curiosity. And sometimes it’s more of a formal, structured lesson with measurable outcomes.
Favorite part of your job?
Creating accessible educational programs and materials for teachers and students, and bringing art into classrooms. Budgets are tight for teachers, and they often face difficult choices about what to prioritize, whether that’s supplies for their students or field trip opportunities.
Mia’s bus grants and programs like Art Adventure help defray some of those costs, increasing access in the process. I love being part of a team that creates those opportunities for our community.
Why do you think engaging with art is important for young learners?
So many reasons! Art is a way to make connections and ask questions. It’s a visual tool to understand history and cultures from around the world.
The way we all learn to read is initially through pictures—then we add words to those pictures. Then, we add meaning to those words and pictures. So creating accessible learning experiences early is key to creating lifelong learners and building what I like to call museum literacy.
We use open-ended questions when looking at art with students. We lean less on stating facts about the art or artists, and more on conversation: What do you see? What do you think is going on? How do you feel when you look at this artwork? What questions do you have? We’re encouraging them to think critically and creatively, skills that will serve them across different subjects.
Engaging with art is also therapeutic for young children. It opens up their perspective and gets them inspired. It can be a powerful vehicle for emotional connection and building empathy. Art offers a way for them to learn just how interconnected our world is.
What makes Monet’s The Seashore at Sainte-Adresse your favorite artwork in the collection?
It reminds me of the time I spent living and working in Rhode Island at the Preservation Society of Newport County. Having grown up in a town smack in the middle of North America, as far from the water as you can get, being by the ocean had a significant impact on me. I really connect with the scenery in that painting. I often visit it in the galleries.
What would you be if you weren’t working as the Student & Teacher Programs Specialist?
Honestly, I’ve always been enamored by the film and entertainment industry. I think I’d be in L.A., writing scripts, being on sets, scouting for talent, that sort of thing. I just love that visual form.
Do you have a favorite memory of working in the Learning department?
I think this comes from being a teacher previously—it’s when I see the impact engaging with art has on the students. In a school group, there are often a few students who are more quiet. They’re less likely to participate or talk to you. But when you look together at a work of art, there’s this moment where it becomes a place to meet and a tool to begin a conversation.
They start to open up, ask questions, share what they’re thinking and feeling. Art is like a gateway. And I love seeing that happen because it reiterates how essential it is for students to have opportunities to visit museums, look at and create art, and feel inspired by artists.
What do you get up to outside of work?
I love to work out. I teach group fitness at the Jewish Community Center in St. Paul, and that’s one way I like to build community. I like to garden and read. I am currently reading through Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. I also enjoy watching TV shows and movies. I’m watching The Gilded Age at the moment. And I like playing video games! I am always up for a good pop culture conversation.
What are you singing at Karaoke night?
“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.