MONA marks 50 years in renovated and expanded facility

KEARNEY, Neb. (KOLN) - The Museum of Nebraska Art is marking 50 years, and this coincides with a recent expansion that added new gallery and education space to its historic Kearney home.

Executive Director Andrew Dunehoo said the collection dates to 1976, when roughly 500 works were gathered by University of Nebraska at Kearney faculty and local artists with a focus exclusively on Nebraska art.

The museum’s latest expansion builds on a previous growth phase in 1993. The latest project included renovation of the museum’s original structure, the 1911 Post Office building, which is listed on the State Historic Register.

“This project was as much a renovation of that existing building as it was an expansion of this new facility,” Dunehoo said.

The expanded space is designed to showcase the full collection and support the long-term preservation and presentation of Nebraska artists’ work, he said.

Dunehoo said visitors can expect a range of artists, from emerging voices to nationally recognized names. Featured artists include Sheila Hicks, described as a major figure in American fiber art; Barbara Takenaga, a modern painter; and June Kaneko, an Omaha-based artist with a recognizable Nebraska profile.

MONA is free and open to the public, supported through donations and community contributions. Dunehoo said the museum offers more than static exhibitions, including a community studio and other education spaces where visitors can create their own work.

“This is more than just a place to see the art,” Dunahoo said. “It’s a place to get active in the art as well.”

He said the museum’s broader goal is to instill statewide pride in Nebraska’s contribution to the national arts landscape.

“Nebraska artists are as much a piece of the national arts voice as any other artist in any other major city,” Dunehoo said.

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