The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has converted its former Museum of Art, which closed in March 2024, into a vibrant art gallery now managed by the Department of Art and Art History. The gallery is led by department chair Professor Ben Cariens and has hosted exhibitions featuring student, faculty, and external work, including the "Not For Sale" exhibition from Rochester and a Modernisms show organized by the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. The space, located in the Paul Creative Arts Center, is open to the public with free admission.
This transformation matters because it repurposes a shuttered museum into an active teaching and study resource, directly serving faculty and students while maintaining public access to art. By integrating the gallery into the academic department, UNH ensures the space remains a dynamic hub for art education and community engagement, rather than leaving a vacant institution.