Raclin Murphy Museum of Art: A Storied History, A New Beginning

With the landmark opening of the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art late this autumn, the university has much to celebrate. More than twenty galleries of exhibition and public display spaces afford endless opportunities to present significant works of art.

The art collections at the University of Notre Dame date to 1875 and are among the oldest and most distinguished at an academic institution in the nation. A critical resource for the whole of campus, research shows us an astonishing 91% of recent graduating seniors have engaged with our collections and exhibitions.

Conceived as part of the Arts Gateway—a new entrance to the university’s storied campus—the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is exceptionally well-positioned to welcome those at Notre Dame, members of the regional community, and visitors from around the world. The goal is to open doors to authentic experiences with original works of art.

Fortuitously sited in the majestic Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park, the new Museum is measurably more than the building’s 70,000 square feet. Considered together, the Museum and Park form an easily navigable nine-acre celebration of the visual arts, offering a meaningful way for the University of Notre Dame to reach and engage audiences of every age and experience.

Follow along with Joseph Antenucci Becherer, Ph.D., Director and Curator of Sculpture, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, as he takes us on a series of behind-the-scenes Hard Hat tours of the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art and what it takes to pull off the building and launch of a new museum.