University Museums is seeking private gifts to support the creation and long-term care of a new expanded sculpture garden that will enhance campus beauty, public art engagement, and educational opportunities. The project is expected to increase tourism and cultural engagement by elevating the campus’s national visibility as a Medallion Site recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects.
January 20, 2026
Founded in 1975, University Museums at Iowa State University has long enriched campus life through the visual arts, supporting learning, creativity, and cultural understanding. Philanthropic support enables the museum to present dynamic exhibitions, expand and preserve its permanent collection, publish scholarly research, and provide educational outreach that engages diverse audiences throughout the Iowa State educational experience.
October 28, 2025
Donor support helps University Museums provide meaningful internship, assistantship, and fellowship opportunities that prepare students for careers in museums and the arts. By investing in these opportunities, donors help train the next generation of museum professionals and foster a lasting appreciation for the arts within future communities.
May 18, 2026
Exhibitions at University Museums play a central role in advancing the museum’s mission to foster understanding and appreciation of the visual arts, presenting 12–14 curated exhibitions across five campus locations. Donor support is essential for funding guest curators, visiting artists, lecturers, conservators, educational programming, and student internships that bring exhibitions to life and strengthen hands-on learning opportunities at Iowa State University.
November 24, 2025
To preserve the permanent collection for future generations, University Museums relies on specialized, high-density storage systems designed specifically for art conservation and collections care. Donor support is essential for expanding storage capacity and maintaining the long-term preservation of the collections. Continued investment also supports digital accessibility through the museum’s online searchable collections database, making artworks available to students, scholars, and the public worldwide.
November 19, 2025
University Museums at Iowa State University cares for and preserves more than 30,000 works of art and cultural objects in its Permanent Collection and Art on Campus Collection. We collaborate with nationally recognized conservators, architects, and art historians who follow professional standards established by the American Institute for Conservation. Donor support is essential to sustaining Iowa State’s tradition of arts excellence and advancing the university’s land-grant mission through the stewardship and preservation of its collections.
December 11, 2025
University Museums at Iowa State University offers dynamic educational programs that foster visual literacy, critical thinking, and creative engagement through the arts. Many programs also include virtual and digital access to broaden participation. Philanthropic support for initiatives such as the Endowed Curator of Academic Engagement and the Fund for Excellence helps sustain exhibitions, educational outreach, research, conservation, staffing, and innovative programming that advance Iowa State’s land-grant mission.
October 22, 2025
Through strategic acquisitions and collections management, the University Museums advances education, creativity, and critical thinking by connecting art with science and technology. Support through the University Museums Acquisitions Fund or named endowments helps expand the collection, enhance learning opportunities, and inspire future generations through the transformative power of art.
December 10, 2025
