A $1 million gift from University of Arkansas alumni Bob and Becky Alexander will fund a comprehensive effort to explore the future of the University Museum, including a feasibility study led by Lord Cultural Resources, a global cultural consulting practice offering services for museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions.
The Bob and Becky Alexander University Museum Vision and Strategy Fund was created to support the strategic planning and professional expertise needed to guide the museum’s next phase of development, according to a press release. In addition to the feasibility study, the fund will provide resources for consulting services and executive leadership support as the university evaluates opportunities to expand the museum’s impact and role on campus and in the broader community.
With experience on more than 2,900 projects in 66 countries, Lord Cultural Resources will lead a collaborative process to assess the campus and community needs and the museum’s potential future direction.
“For more than 150 years, the University Museum has supported teaching, research and public engagement while preserving collections of tremendous historical and scientific value,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “Bob and Becky Alexander’s gift will help us develop a sustainable vision for expanding its impact on our campus and across the state for generations to come. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and their partnership in strengthening this invaluable resource.”
To support the effort, the University Museum will host an open house Aug. 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., offering campus and community members the chance to learn more about the museum’s collections and the planning process. A second open house is planned for early November, with a broader community focus and additional opportunities for public input as the feasibility study progresses. Outside of these events, museum visits are by appointment only.
“At Fulbright College, we believe education extends well beyond the classroom,” said Brian E. Raines, dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “For over 150 years, the University Museum has been a powerful expression of that mission by connecting our students and community to ideas, cultures and histories that broaden perspective. Bob and Becky Alexander have set the stage for the next era of the University Museum and what it can become.”
Housed within the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the University Museum is one of the university’s oldest academic resources. The University Museum began as an early geology teaching collection dating back to 1873. Since then, its holdings have grown to more than 7.5 million objects spanning archaeology, ethnology, history, geology and zoology. Today, the museum serves as a steward of Arkansas’ cultural and natural heritage, supporting research, teaching and public engagement through its collections, exhibitions and online resources.
“We hope that the University Museum can be a cultural heart of our region — a place where the histories and stories held in these collections are preserved and made accessible,” said Laurel Lamb, curator of education and engagement for the University Museum. “A single object can spark a question that changes how a student or visitor sees the world.”
The museum’s collections are currently housed in a climate-controlled facility on Hatch Avenue and displayed in venues across campus and throughout the community. They include objects that document both Arkansas and global history — from archaeological artifacts and historical records to geological and zoological specimens used in teaching and research. The museum has long connected students, researchers and the public with the resources that help preserve and interpret the natural world and the people who have shaped it.
A three-phase feasibility study, led by Lord Cultural Resources, will help determine how the museum can strengthen its connection to the university’s teaching and research mission and better serve its students, faculty and the community. The study is expected to take approximately 32 weeks to complete.
