The advisory board of Chicago's DePaul Art Museum has sent a strongly worded letter to DePaul University leadership, condemning the decision to permanently close the 40-year-old museum on June 30. The letter, signed by board chair Scott J. Hunter and members including artists Brendan Fernandes and former Expo Chicago head Tony Karman, expresses "anger, frustration, and deep sadness" over the abrupt closure and the university's unilateral plans for the museum's 4,000-object collection.
The closure matters because it represents the potential loss of a significant cultural and academic resource, sparking widespread opposition from the university community. The museum's collection is a vital repository of Chicago art, with strengths in the Monster Roster and Chicago Imagists like Roger Brown and Christina Ramberg. The advisory board accuses the administration of abandoning its Vincentian values and disregarding a collaborative fundraising effort to secure the museum's future, raising concerns about institutional stewardship and the role of arts in higher education.