Art and Culture

The Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, Wisconsin is an educational and enjoyable experience for adults and children. The museum makes it their mission to "... collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit works of art...'' and they share these works with the public in an effort to teach. They believe that art enriches the human experience, and that art also exhibits different cultures and histories of people. The museum serves as an educational resource for those attending and those teaching at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. On frequent occasions, the academic departments at the school call on the museum to enhance lessons and instruction. Various exhibits, artifacts, and programs are used in lessons, and instructors find these hands on opportunities help students learn. The collection of the museum includes paintings, sculpture, watercolors and drawings, prints, photography, applied and decorative arts.

The museum also welcomes the general public to its 26,000 square feet of display space. Seventy percent of this space is considered part of the museum's permanent collection. On occasion, up to a dozen loaned exhibits are on display. The museum is free of charge and they encourage browsing their collection of art. In addition to the general public and the University of Wisconsin students and faculty, the museum runs a kindergarten through twelfth grade learning program. The museum works with teachers to integrate their exhibits into curriculum standards. Previous lessons have included learning about manufacturing skills, historical context of art, and appreciation for art objects.

Chazen prides itself on its rich collection of art information. There are a variety of reproductions available for students to study and use for publication. The staff is knowledgable and ready to share that knowledge with those studying the museum's collections. Docents are available to lead organized groups through the museum while sharing information and education. On occasion, there are also trips to other museums organized by Chazen, allowing students to study a variety of art in other areas and other collections.

The museum has made it part of their mission to offer their art to people with disabilities who may otherwise miss out on art collections. Both the north and south entrances of the museum have ramp entry and automatic doors. There is also a guided program for touring the permanent displays in the collection called the Whistlestop Tour. This experience is perfect for teens and adults who are vision-impaired. The self-guided audio tour is also available wth a neck-lou coupler that connects your personal hearing aid to the museum's audio device. The script of the tour is also available in large print.

Following your tour of the museum, stop by the gift shop for a momento of your visit. The shop offers books, posters, jewelry, textiles, and cards. Many of these items feature work in the museum's collection. This means you can take home a piece of your favorite artwork in the collection. Museum members enjoy a discount in the gift shop, so if you plan to visit more than once, it can be beneficial to join. Visit the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison for an educational and enjoyable experience.