Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University

Open free of charge, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art’s mission aims to embody Cornell’s commitment as a University that is broad in scope, open, and accessible to all. Like its parent institution, the Johnson Museum seeks to “bridge the world of thought and ideas and the world of practice and action” and provide access to the entire spectrum of the visual arts. Given the importance of its collection, exhibitions, and programs, the Johnson Museum strives to exemplify the standards by which the museum profession is judged and to assist in setting and upholding standards in the field. The Museum houses, preserves, and documents its collections for the benefit of current and future generations of museum visitors. The Museum’s programs introduce audiences to art of the past and help them explore new directions in contemporary art interpreted and presented through a wide range of exhibitions, publications, and programs. The Museum is committed to playing a prominent role—regionally as well as nationally—in addressing significant issues in the visual arts. The Johnson Museum has an obligation to use its collection to better serve a widely diverse audience and respond to changing demographics on campus, in New York State, and beyond. Through appreciation and deeper understanding of the visual world, the Johnson seeks to meet contemporary global challenges that cross-geographic boundaries, and welcomes partnerships across many fields of study to broaden understanding of historic and current events. Pursuing these educational and cultural collaborations is key to the Museum’s success in sustaining audience engagement, developing new pedagogies, and increasing its impact on the Cornell campus and beyond.