Ackland Upstairs displays works of art that directly engage with learning objectives of courses at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There are any number of ways to look at, learn from, and appreciate art; the six sections in the gallery suggests that range. Students and faculty from diverse disciplines investigate research questions using the works on view here, whether in class sessions held in the gallery or through individual study. In each section, there is brief information about the course and its approach to the art on view.

During each semester there are two sets of installations

The Ackland Art Museum is grateful to the William Hayes Ackland Trust and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for support of this program.