DePaul University faculty, students, and community members are mounting a public campaign to reverse the university's abrupt decision to close the DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) on June 30. An open letter led by philosophy professor Sean Kirkland has garnered nearly 3,800 signatures, while the museum's advisory board issued a separate statement condemning the closure as "egregious." Critics argue the decision was made without faculty consultation and undermines the institution's academic mission.
The closure highlights the increasing financial pressure on university-affiliated art museums and the tension between administrative budget-cutting and the preservation of humanities-focused spaces. While the university cites ongoing budget planning for the move, the museum's supporters are pushing for a temporary pause in operations rather than a permanent shutdown to allow time for securing external funding and protecting the future of the museum's permanent collection.