Great Plains Art Museum opens new artist studio, education lab

Katie Nieland | Center for Great Plains Studies

Erin Jones Graf, 2019 Elizabeth Rubendall Artist in Residence, works in the new Elizabeth Rubendall Artist-in-Residence Studio and Education Lab at the Great Plains Art Museum. The public is invited to celebrate the opening of the space during First Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. April 5.

The Great Plains Art Museum is now home to a new space that will advance its outreach and education mission: the Elizabeth Rubendall Artist-in-Residence Studio and Education Lab.

A donation by Fred and Julie Hoppe enabled the creation of the lab in the museum’s lower level. With the donation from the Hoppes, longtime supporters of the Elizabeth Rubendall Artist-in-Residence Program, the artist will move from the lobby to a new studio to have a more flexible, secure space and still be in full view of the public.

The conversion of this under-utilized office space to a studio will also provide a year-round, hands-on education space right off the lower-level gallery. The education studio allows for more flexibility in programming that could include educational workshops with not only artists, but other Great Plains scholars.

“We are very grateful for the Hoppes’ generous donation, which has made this new space a reality, and we are excited to explore the possibilities that this studio provides for our educational programming.” said Ashley Hussman, Great Plains Art Museum director and curator.

The museum invites the public to celebrate the opening of the space during First Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. April 5. The celebration will include a talk by Erin Jones Graf, the inaugural artist for the studio and education lab. Jones Graf will speak about her work at 6 p.m. in the lower-level gallery. She will be using the new lab to create an artwork for the museum’s permanent collection during her residency from March 23 through April 6. The public is encouraged to visit the artist in the studio during normal museum hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Since its inception in 2006, the Elizabeth Rubendall Foundation has funded the artist-in-residence program, which allows museum visitors and school groups to see an artist in action. Learn more.

The Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., is open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free.