Providing a Preservation Needs Assessment for Wildlife Art

FAIN: PG-233823-16

National Museum of Wildlife Art (Jackson, WY 83002-6825)
Dawn K. Kimbrel (Project Director: May 2015 to December 2015)
Adam Duncan Harris (Project Director: December 2015 to September 2017)

Hiring a consultant to perform a general preservation assessment of the collections and inform a renovation and reconfiguration of the collection storage, galleries, and workspace areas of the museum. This first-time NEH applicant plans to undertake a general conservation assessment of its 5,000 paintings, sculptures and other formats representing wildlife art from 2,500 BCE to the present. The strengths are 19th- and 20th-century American and European works, and show the evolution of perceptions of American wilderness as well as its varied uses. The collections have supported several recent scholarly publications, traveling exhibits, and educational programs, including online curriculum-based art learning for teachers. The assessment would include an analysis of the museum’s environmental conditions and housekeeping, pest control, and facility policies. The resulting preservation plan would inform the plan to renovate the museum, which includes the creation of new workspaces for the care and preservation of the collection.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art respectfully requests $6,000 to hire a CCAHA consultant to perform a general preservation assessment for the nation's singular collection of art depicting wildlife. The Museum's collection includes some 5,000 paintings, sculptures, and other fine artworks that represent centuries of wildlife art, from artists as diverse as Edward Hicks, John James Audubon, Albert Bierstadt, Charlie Russell, Carl Rungius, Rosa Bonheur, Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and Walton Ford. This assessment is a key step in the multi-year museum building renovation plan that aims to enhance visitor experiences and improve stewardship of the collection. The renovation includes a reconfiguration of the collection storage areas and new galleries and collections workspace areas. A preservation assessment will identify issues so that Museum staff can integrate best practices into the renovation plan, and assure solid collections management policies going forward.