Student Energy Takes Over: A Look Back at Night at the Museum

By Jordynn Nieman, AD&A Communications Intern

This past Wednesday, April 16th, the AD&A Museum at UCSB buzzed with life, music, and creativity as students gathered for Night at the Museum—an evening event curated for students by students. AD&A interns Vivan Howard and Elaine Huang took the lead in organizing Night at the Museum. It was a thoughtful, hands-on experience that invited students to engage with art in a fresh and approachable way.

Their goal was to create a space where students could feel comfortable exploring the museum, even if it was their first time visiting. They made sure every part of the event invited students to engage with the two exhibitions, "Public Texts: A Californian Visual Language" and "Tomiyama: A Tale of Sea Wonders" in a fun and thoughtful way. This leadership brought new energy into the museum and helped make the night both memorable and welcoming.

From coordinating event logistics to designing interactive elements, they worked behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. Their efforts showed how student-led programming can make the museum feel more accessible, creative, and connected to campus life.

Open to all UCSB students, the event featured a museum scavenger hunt, a collaborative artmaking station, live music by the local band Garage Cheesecake, and tables filled with snacks and museum-branded merch! From the moment students stepped through the doors, they were met with energy, conversation, and opportunities to engage directly with the exhibitions on view. The atmosphere felt vibrant and welcoming, making the museum a space where students could explore and connect in new and unexpected ways.

“I think the most interesting part of the entire event planning process was thinking about how to design games that would attract a wider and more diverse group of students to participate in museum activities. Our goal is to promote the museum and allow people who have never stepped foot in one to experience the joy of art.” - Elaine Huang

This vision led to the creation of a museum-themed scavenger hunt that challenged students to explore the exhibitions in new ways.

“While designing this activity, I suggested selecting interesting small details from specific works of art and having the audience find these pieces or solve related riddles. I designed puzzles related to the history and content of the exhibits, which would allow the audience to gain a deeper understanding of the exhibits from different perspectives.” - Elaine Huang

That thoughtfulness made a real impact. Many students attended throughout the night, some stepping into the AD&A Museum for the very first time! The scavenger hunt encouraged close looking and curiosity. As the attendees searched for clues and solved riddles, they uncovered layers of meaning within the exhibitions on view.

The event’s success is a testament to the power of student-led programming within institutional spaces. Interns bring a certain energy to museum life. Many guests shared that they’d never been to the AD&A Museum before but would be back after such a positive experience.

We’re incredibly proud of our interns for bringing such a joyful vision to life, and grateful to all the students who showed up, participated, and made the night unforgettable. As we look ahead, the museum is excited to continue building events that center student voices and turn the museum into a space where art and community grow together.

Stay connected for more events—and if you missed this one, we hope to see you at the next!

Below is a link to a video you can check out that recaps the night!