What's inside The Block?: Block Museum - Northwestern University
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Janet in If You Remember

What's inside The Block?

Our Mission

 

The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University is an engine that drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study, with visual arts at the center.

 

We do this by activating art’s power as a form of insight, research, and knowledge creation that makes human experience visible and material.

 

Fueled by diverse perspectives and ways of knowing, we create shared encounters with art and with one another to deepen understandings of the world and our place within it.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which:
  • The Block has a sustained impact on its diverse audiences who join us in asking bold questions and who find meaning in ongoing engagement with the museum.

  • The Block is integral to Northwestern's commitments to academic excellence, dialogue across differences, public discourse, and student sense of belonging.

  •  The Block is considered fundamental to teaching, learning, and research by faculty, students, and staff across all of Northwestern’s twelve schools. 

  • The Block consistently embodies the values and commitments of its equity statement within decision-making, in organizational culture, and in all aspects of its work.

  • The Block propels the work of academic art museums forward, contributing to their potential, deepening their relevance, and expanding their value.

Accreditation & Affiliation

 American Association of Museums

AA American Association of Museums (AAM) accreditation logo

The Block Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM). Accreditation recognizes high standards and ensures that museums uphold their public trust. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for more than 35 years, AAM’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability.

 

College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program

The Block is a member of the College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program, through which academic museums have opened their doors to the members of other teaching museums. Visitors have the opportunity to see how other schools use their collections for teaching and enjoyment.

Download List of Participating Museums