Art enriches our lives and our campuses. Though most larger campuses have a museum, many people on campus won’t visit. The University of South Dakota used an unusual way to ensure that art was visible across campus: they collected masterworks from each graduating BFA and MFA student, and exhibited them in offices and classroom buildings across campus.
The USD approach served multiple purposes. The Art Department did not have room to store all of the art-but universities have a lot of office and classroom building spaces. Art was more visible across campus, and I think encouraged participation in organized gallery events, as well.
Some might be concerned about vandalism-I never saw it. I think that people respect art. Though I understand that the Mona Lisa may need more protection than a painting by Joe Smith, Class of ‘72…this never seemed to be a problem.
We did not adopt this at Idaho, just something that never quite made the list. But, we enjoyed exhibitions of student art in the Art and Architecture Building, and we also started a “President and Provost Collection” that we planned to hang in the Administration Building. I am not sure the new administration is as committed to that idea, but I think it remains a positive step in popularizing the arts on campus.
