University of Missouri President Mun Choi during a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum of Art and Archaeology.
Dean of the College of Arts and Science Cooper Drury examines a 1937 black and white photo by Edward Weston.
Museum Registrar and Collections Manager Sarah Thomson and Curator of Antiquities Benton Kidd work to reinstall objects.
By Rosemary Frank
This spring, the Museum of Art and Archaeology will open its doors to the campus and community in a newly renovated and centrally located space in Ellis Library.
Founded in 1957, MA&A took residence in Pickard Hall in 1976. When the historic building closed in 2013, MA&A moved its galleries to Mizzou North where it reopened in spring 2015. With the closure of Mizzou North in July 2021, museum staff packed up more than 16,000 objects and moved them to Ellis Library’s ground floor space, an area that once housed the Missouri State Historical Society.
Back on campus, museum staff are carefully unpacking and organizing the art and antiquities into new collections storage areas. Meanwhile, former classrooms and conference rooms are being converted into galleries, new lighting and flooring is being installed, and an entrance is being created between the library and museum.
As renovations near completion, museum staff are installing permanent and temporary exhibitions, transforming the area into a welcoming space where students, educators, and the community can discover art and artifacts firsthand.