SUBJECT: Campus Art Protocol

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past five decades, the University of Michigan-Dearborn Art Collections and Exhibitions Department has preserved, displayed, and interpreted an expansive visual art collection of approximately 4,000 objects that represents 20th and 21st-century artists working in virtually all media and styles, with a noted stable of studio glass.  Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Jacob Lawrence, Electra Stamelos, Charles McGee, and Dale Chihuly are just a few of the renowned artists represented. The department enhances the academic and educational experiences of students, faculty, staff, and the general public by offering dynamic educational programming, curating and managing a thriving exhibition program. The Stamelos Gallery Center has more information, including the mission and vision of the department.

The art collection is one of the university’s richest and most valuable teaching tools. Students, faculty, and staff have the unique opportunity to directly research and interact with the artwork in the collection. As the purpose of the art collection is educational, works of art are displayed only in campus leadership offices and public areas across campus that have been strategically chosen to provide the best possible visibility for the collection. 

Department staff, consisting of an art curator, museum registrar, and student interns, ensures that the collection is utilized, developed, and preserved so that it can be enjoyed and used by many generations to come. They are the only personnel allowed to coordinate handling of the permanent collection pieces. Any department that has a loaned collection piece is responsible for the safety and care of it, so when there is a need to handle or move the collection piece, the Art Collections and Exhibitions Department will coordinate that work. 

Because offices and other campus spaces can be decorated personally or by a department, please check if a piece belongs to the university's permanent art collection before handling it by contacting the Art Collections and Exhibitions Department using the contact information below. 

Laura Cotton, Art Curator and Gallery Manager, lacotton@umich.edu

Autumn Muir, Museum Registrar, aumuir@umich.edu

Your assistance with this work is valuable and appreciated! Having the Art Collections and Exhibitions Department manage the collection pieces that have been generously donated to us will ensure that students, the campus and greater community will learn and be inspired for many generations to come. 

Thank you for your support and understanding of our policies and procedures, and your interest in the permanent art collection. 

With all best wishes,

Gabriella

Gabriella Scarlatta
Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs