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Mission Statement
Sheldon Museum of Art ignites discovery, inquiry, and connection for people at the University of Nebraska and in the city of Lincoln, the state of Nebraska, the nation, and the world. We move, inspire, and delight through meaningful engagement with great works of art.
Core Values
The Transcendent Power of Art
Experiences with great works of art create moments of joy, inspiration, wonder, creativity, renewal, and fun. We value these aspects of the museum experience, and commit to developing and stewarding exceptional collections and exhibitions that deepen human flourishing for everyone.
Connection and Belonging
Sheldon centers the visitor experience and is a welcoming and accessible place for creative, intellectual, and social engagement. Our words, actions, and policies manifest a commitment to honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Intellectual Transformation
The museum is committed to the life of the mind, a culture of thought, intellectual exploration, public discourse, and the rigorous creation and dissemination of knowledge. We value creative, critical, and divergent thinking as means to individual and collective growth.
The Power of Community
Sheldon’s mission extends well beyond the museum’s walls. Our ongoing relationships with campus and community organizations honor the agency of each partner, prioritize trust, and demonstrate shared power. The museum embraces its role as a civic leader and commits to strengthening our communities by celebrating and framing dialogue about meaningful differences between cultures and identities.
Freedom of Expression
Sheldon encourages the good-faith exchange of multiple perspectives as an opportunity to spark conversations that expand individual and collective insight. This exchange of ideas helps us treat each other with empathy, care, and respect. The museum’s exhibitions and programs may awe, illuminate, challenge, unsettle, confound, provoke, and, at times, offend. By exhibiting a work of art Sheldon is not endorsing the vision, ideas, and opinions of the artist. It is, however, upholding the right of all to express—and to experience—multiple perspectives, contradictory ideas held in tension, and individual points of view.