About UND Art Collections
The story behind how the UND Art Collections came into existence is as unique as the art itself.
Art: Not Just for Decoration
Before the UND Art Collections was officially formed, artworks owned by the University and UND Foundation were widely scattered across campus without much oversight, security or identification. Art was used mainly for decoration, rarely for education.
Efforts were initiated in 2005 to provide campus-wide management of the dispersed collections and standardize the quality of care. Based on the premise that a university's art collection should serve a function ardently related to its higher education setting, a plan was launched to better utilize art for education, research, and community cultural enrichment.
Making an Impact
An initial task of UND Art Collections involved examining the works and updating records with the help of volunteer faculty and staff members. Many pieces had unique journeys that led them to the Collections. Each journey and the story behind how the art was created were documented in informational text panels which included the artist's name, title, date, and medium so viewers could learn about the artist's style and cultural history.
Next, the art needed to be made available to viewers. Because there were no large art galleries available to UND at the time, small satellite galleries were created throughout campus with secure displays.
Works also started to be used as teaching resources and for research. UND Art Collections soon had a significant impact on the University's art program and the campus as a whole. Students were especially attracted to opportunities for experiential learning and museum internship credit.
Mission & Vision
The mission of UND Art Collections is to facilitate the use of the University's art for education, research, and community cultural enrichment in ways that forward the University's mission and strategic goals. While providing oversight for the art owned by the University, UND Art Collections also offers assistance to the UND Foundation in the management and use of its art collection.
Primary Goals
- Develop an ongoing system to enhance the use of UND's art collections to meet the institution's mission and strategic plan (especially in regard to teaching, research, and community outreach).
- Complete and maintain an inventory of UND's art.
- Determine the scholarly and educational value of each artwork in order to determine how each should be used or located on campus.Improve security and preservation/conservation efforts.
- Seek external funding sources to support operations and special projects.
- Network nationally and internationally with museum organizations and professional art conferences.
- Contribute new knowledge (in keeping with UND's research institution status) by producing scholarly studies on art in the University's collections.
Office of the Provost
The Office of the Provost oversees the UND Art Collections with a collective mission to enhance the academic and cultural experience at UND and its impact on the state, region and nation.