Thriving Beginnings: Montana Museum of Art and Culture Experiences Success in Initial Months of Operation
The Montana Museum of Art and Culture (MMAC) at the University of Montana has recently opened the doors to its new three-story building, marking a significant milestone in the museum's history. Completed with a budget of $2.5 million in privately funded work, the new facility is designed to be a convergence of architecture and artistry, providing a space not just to hold art but to meaningfully present it.
According to the museum's director, Rafael Chacon, the responses to the new building and the Permanent Collection have been positive. For decades, folks have been promised a chance to see the museum's collection, and now, with the new building, they will have the opportunity to see a selection of it. The museum houses nearly 12,000 artworks, the largest publicly owned collection in Montana, with a focus on Montana culture, Rocky Mountain regional art, and works by European masters.
Many of the museum's visitors are students, as the museum is located next to the Adams Center on the University of Montana campus. The museum's ground floor holds classroom space and collection access for educational outreach events, which the museum has been hosting for a long time. Chacon stated that the new building will significantly improve these events.
The new building displays 400 pieces at a time from the museum's collection, which has been held in a vault under the PARTV building for years. The museum is currently in the process of moving and cataloging its extensive collection into the new building. After rotating the collection, the museum plans to display the collection which has been hidden for decades, rotating the selection over the course of the next two years.
The museum will also curate exhibitions based on the Permanent Collection after rotating the pieces. While specific detailed schedules or named exhibitions for the permanent collection have not been publicly announced yet, the museum frequently rotates exhibitions featuring a wide range of topics, suggesting ongoing activation of their permanent and temporary collections.
Since its official opening on Sept. 28, the museum has seen increased attendance. The new building stands out on the University campus, providing an improvement for the museum and the community overall. For the most accurate and detailed upcoming exhibition plans, it would be advisable to consult MMAC directly or monitor their official channels as they continue activating their new building’s galleries.
The new museum building, a testament to architecture and artistry, will not only serve as a home for the extensive collection but also as a hub for community engagement in art and lifestyle. Starting from the ground floor, the museum will provide specialized spaces for educational outreach events and classes, fostering a unique home-and-garden environment for learning and appreciation of art. As the museum rotates its collection over the next two years, visitors can look forward to renting the opportunity to witness artworks that have been hidden for decades, further enriching their quality of life.
