In partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Museum of Art announced a new initiative to strengthen teaching and learning opportunities in Northern Nevada. In a formal ceremony with University President Brian Sandoval, we committed to a shared vision: starting fall 2025, the museum will become a site where university courses are taught, creating a vibrant learning environment rooted in art and environmental inquiry and the museum’s thematic art and archive collections.

This partnership exemplifies our mission — to ensure education and art is accessible to all — and illustrates how the museum’s new 50,000-square-foot Charles and Stacie Mathewson Education + Research Center is already enhancing our educational and research programming and impact. The new building will be fully open to the public this summer.

Our commitment to the community begins with the youngest learners. Each year, we provide free and low-cost tours and hands-on art labs for thousands of K-12 students, prioritizing those attending Title I schools in Washoe and Douglas counties. These aren’t just field trips to the museum — they’re immersive experiences that bring Nevada’s cultural heritage and globally significant art to life. Through generous support of our donors and partners, we ensure that transportation is never a barrier, offering free busing for students in these school districts.

But we know that learning doesn’t end with the school bell. That’s why we offer after-school art classes through the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. We also award scholarships for students with financial need to attend classes in our E.L. Cord Museum School, and offer free museum admission for all high school students.

Our K-12 educators are equally important. Teachers across the state benefit from free educator memberships, professional development, and continuing education opportunities, including our annual NV STEAM Conference. These resources help teachers integrate art and creativity into their classrooms, amplifying our impact far beyond our museum’s walls.

Higher education students are integral to our community. That’s why in 2023 we established the Wayne L. Prim Free UNR and TMCC Student Admission Endowment enabling nearly 30,000 students access to the museum annually. This unique benefit enriches their academic and personal growth through direct engagement with art, archives, exhibitions and renowned artists.

Access is fundamental to who we are. Whether it’s offering free admission to active military members and their families through the Blue Star Museums Program, welcoming Native American community partners to tailored programs and gatherings, or inviting older adults to free Art Afternoon workshops, we are intentional about meeting people where they are and inviting them in.

At the heart of our mission lies the belief that art is for everyone. It’s why we host the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation Hands On! Second Saturdays with free admission and programs for all families, and why we open our Center for Art + Environment archives for public research — no cost, no strings.

This vision would not be possible without the enduring passion and generosity of our Board of Trustees and the many individuals, foundations, corporations, and governmental agencies who believe in this important work. I am filled with immense gratitude for all we’ve collectively accomplished to envision and build our Charles and Stacie Mathewson Education + Research Center. We’ve made a $60 million investment in our Northern Nevada community. This is truly a transformative chapter in museum’s 94-year history and puts a fine point on our ongoing commitment to education, research, lifelong learning, and opportunity. And, with bold new partnerships like the one with UNR, we will touch more lives and offer a brighter future for all Nevadans.

David B. Walker is the CEO of the Nevada Museum of Art.

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