University Museums Celebrates Iowa Museum Week June 11-17

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

On Thursday, June 7th Governor Terry Branstad will proclaim June 11-17, 2012 as Iowa Museum Week. During this week, Iowa’s museums, including University Museums, will raise awareness of their programs and celebrate what makes them unique community assets. Iowa’s ninety-nine counties are home to hundreds of historical societies and specialized museums as well as to major regional collections in art, history, agricultural, botanical and living collections. Iowa’s museums are important community assets, attracting visitors to area hotels, restaurants, and recreational areas; providing education and outreach for all ages; driving both incoming tourism revenue and job creation; and contributing to the overall quality of life that makes Iowa’s communities great places to live, work, and raise a family.

Governor Branstad has recognized the importance of Iowa’s museums in his proclamation, stating that Iowa Museum Week will celebrate the crucial role of Iowa’s museums in preserving the historical fabric and memory of our state through preservation of artifacts and archives; in providing educational resources and programs which expand learning opportunities for all ages; in contributing to a vibrant community and state economy through job creation, purchase of goods and services, and by attracting tourism revenue to the community and state; and in their significant role in enhancing community quality of life.

“Museums are an asset to any community. Iowa museums are plentiful and add to core values of their respective communities. University Museums at Iowa State University strives to educationally engage and delight visitors both locally and regionally with active programming, artist visits, visual literacy curriculum, and changing exhibitions. I hope you celebrate Iowa Museum Week by visiting any of the University Museums facilities and campus public art collection and enjoy the 30,000 permanent collection objects we care for and educate on.” - University Museums director Lynette Pohlman

During Iowa Museum Week, the Christian Petersen Art Museum will be open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located on the first floor of Morrill Hall on central campus. The Brunnier Art Museum, located on the 2nd floor of the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center, and will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Farm House Museum, central campus, will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4:00 p.m, and is offering free lemonade to all visitors.

Admission is free at all museums, however there is a suggested donation of $3 per visitor.

Iowa’s museums are supported in their missions by the Iowa Museum Association, a statewide association of museums including art centers and art museums, botanical gardens, children's museums, historic sites, historical societies, living history sites, nature centers, natural history museums, planetariums, science and technology centers, and zoos.The mission of the Iowa Museum Association is to provide quality training and development to Iowa museum professionals and volunteers, advocate for support of Iowa’s museums, and build a strong community of museums and museum supporters in Iowa. For more information on Iowa museums or the Iowa Museum Association, please visit www.iowamuseums.org.

Museum Week Events:

Wednesday, June 13 at 12:00 pm on the ISU Campus
ArtWalk – Scheman Building
Join Dorothy Witter, Interpretation Specialist, for a tour of the Art on Campus in the Scheman Building. This semester’s ArtWalks focus on the Thousand Words Project, which asks members of the Iowa State Community to re-interpret works of art in the Art on Campus Collection. Meet Dorothy inside the North, ground floor entrance of the building.

Saturday, June 16 from 2:00 pm
Gallery Walk of the Brunnier Art Museum
Explore the summer exhibitions with museum staff.

Sunday, June 17 from 1:00-4:00 pm
Game Day at the Brunnier
Release your inner child on Sundays throughout the summer by playing board games at the museum. Board games will range in age and be available in addition to puzzles and card decks.

Events are free and open to the public.

Media Information
To schedule interviews and/or to photograph installations, please contact Allison Sheridan at 515.294.3342 or aclone@iastate.edu.

Contributed by: University Musuems.

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