This Is Albuquerque: Unm Art Museum

\ Mar 03, 2016

4 min read

What is your business philosophy?

The mission of the UNM Art Museum is to encourage an understanding and appreciation of art and its multiple roles in society by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art drawn from its permanent collection and traveling exhibitions. Through a combination of teaching, active research, public programming and open conversations with members of the university community, as well as other communities that are local, regional, national and international in scope, the museum cultivates engaged, interactive learning about the arts.

How do you maintain your competitive edge?

The museum offers a variety of programs for visitors to learn about art, history and culture. Whether it is a guided tour, an informal gallery talk, a family-focused program or a self-guided tour of a special exhibition and permanent collection, people will have the opportunity to explore one of Albuquerque’s treasures.

What are your growth goals?

The museum’s initiatives seek to explore the boundless potential of how the museum can actively be a part of the campus, the city and the state by offering more to our audiences. In order to better serve our communities we have set the following goals:

· To set a standard of excellence regarding all activities at the UNM Art Museum, specifically collections, exhibitions and related programming.

· To preserve, educate and ensure public accessibility to our collection.

· To feature the very best in contemporary art practices by inviting curators, artists and arts organizations to partner with the museum.

· To serve the collegiate student body, faculty and staff through programming and inter-disciplinary collaborations.

Anything else you would like to add?

The UNM Art Museum recognizes the unique needs of every visitor. Art scholars, families with young children and teenager, university students, K-12 school groups, community organizations and first time museum visitors all have different expectations when they walk through the galleries. We value each visitor and create programming and educational materials to actively engage their explorations into our exhibitions. Related to the museum’s goals, the education department at UNMAM strives for the following:

• To provide educational programming and interpretive materials for identified potential and existing visitors.

• To make UNM Art Museum a place for families and youth.

• To provide educational opportunities for university students interested in art education, museum studies, arts management or related fields.

• To develop and maintain a strong relationship with K-12 teachers and provide educational opportunities for them and their students.

• To develop partnerships with community organizations in order to serve and enrich the lives of more community members.

• To ensure that beyond teaching about our collections and exhibitions, we listen to and join the conversations with those who choose to visit UNMAM.

What programs do you offer?

• Group Tours

• K-12 Tours

• Meeting of the Minds (Lunchtime conversations in the gallery)

• INSIGHTS Distinguished Lecture Series

• Lil LOBO Studio – Family Art-making Workshops

• Print Viewings (of UNM Art Museum’s collections not on display)

• Summer Arts Access Camp – for children 6 – 12 yrs – TUITION BASED PROGRAM

(All programs are free unless otherwise noted. Visitor donations to the museum help keep these programs running.)

What is your biggest asset?

Our collection. The UNM Art Museum, as a dynamic part of the state’s flagship institution of higher learning, is first and foremost a teaching museum. The museum was founded in 1963 and its collections have grown exponentially over the years reflecting the university’s unique location, the museum’s status as a resource and the interests of its supporters.

The museum’s collection includes painting, photography, prints and sculpture with particular strengths in American prints and works by the Transcendental Painting Group. It also houses the estate collection of Raymond Jonson and Clinton Adams and is the archive for the Tamarind Lithography Workshop (1960-1970) and the Tamarind Institute (1970-present). Begun by Van Deren Coke and enhanced by Beaumont Newhall, the vast works on paper collection includes over 10,000 photographs and early cased objects, more than 10,000 prints, which date from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493) to the present day and nearly 1,500 drawings.