University of Virginia
The University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, sustains
the ideal of
developing, through education, leaders who are well-prepared to help
shape the future of
the nation. The University is public, while nourished by the strong
support of its alumni.
Jefferson designed the Rotunda, modeled after the Pantheon in Rome,
as the architectural
and academic heart of his community of scholars, or what he termed
the "academical
village." The academical village is based on the assumption that the
life of the mind is the
pursuit of all participants in the University, that learning is a lifelong
and shared process,
and that interaction between scholars and students enlivens the pursuit
of knowledge.
The University of Virginia Art Museum, opened in 1935, is dedicated
to
fulfilling the University’s academic mission and to serving diverse
local, regional
and national audiences through innovative models of learning based
in the visual
arts.
Today, the Museum is a vital academic and cultural resource for the
University and
the surrounding central Virginia community, presenting permanent collection
installations and 12-15 temporary exhibitions annually. More than 30,000
visitors
enjoy the Museum and its programs yearly, including more than 3,000
school
children who participate in tours and other educational programs. The
Museum
collaborates closely with University departments, including anthropology,
art and
architecture, to build collections and present exhibitions and educational
programs
that benefit students and incorporate faculty research.
