What’s New at The Butler Institute and How to Support It
The Butler Institute of American Art is buzzing with energy right now from special exhibitions to behind-the-scenes upgrades that will protect the collection for generations.
And the best part? There are so many ways you can be part of it.
Here’s what’s new at The Butler, why the arts matter more than ever for our community, and how you can support this one-of-a-kind museum.
Special Exhibition Honoring a Giant: Robert Rauschenberg at 100
Robert Rauschenberg, the relentlessly experimental American artist who helped reshape the visual art world, would have turned 100 on October 22, 2025. To mark his centenary, the New York–based Robert Rauschenberg Foundation is leading a global celebration of exhibitions, performances, and publications through 2026.
The Butler Institute is proud to join this worldwide tribute with a special installation of rarely seen Rauschenberg prints and archival material in the Segall Print Gallery, Butler North, on view October 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026.
“Robert Rauschenberg stands as one of America’s artistic giants who literally transformed the visual art world into the variety of forms which exists today,” notes Dr. Louis Zona, Executive Director of The Butler. “To call him an artistic genius is to underestimate the nature of his contributions to world art.”
This exhibition is a rare chance to experience Rauschenberg’s pioneering spirit up close—right here in our region.
In The Works: The New “Blue Vault”
Caring for America’s art heritage doesn’t just happen on the gallery walls—it happens in the spaces most visitors never see.
The Butler has completed construction on the Blue Vault, a brand-new, 13,000-square-foot collection storage space designed to house more than 22,000 works of art. Once a classroom space, the area has been transformed into a state-of-the-art collection hub.
Key features include:
- 40 mobile racks, each able to hold more than 300 square feet of hanging art
- Specialized museum lighting to protect works from light damage
- A water-leak detection system and other conservation-focused safeguards
Part of the preventative conservation plan, overseen by Chief Curator and Collection Manager Liz Hicks and the Butler’s board committees, this project ensures that the pieces you see on the walls (and the many more you don’t) will remain safe for future generations.
Why Supporting The Arts and The Butler Matters
When you support The Butler, you’re doing more than keeping a beautiful museum free and open to all. You’re investing in education, health, and quality of life across the community.
For Children and Teens: Stronger Academics & Life Skills
A growing body of research shows that arts participation boosts student success:
- Students involved in arts education are significantly more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and to have higher test scores and graduation rates.
- Long-term studies of tens of thousands of students have linked arts involvement with higher academic performance and lower dropout rates.
- Arts education is also connected to better attendance, stronger critical thinking, and improved social-emotional skills like empathy and collaboration.
In very real terms, supporting a museum like The Butler means helping local schools and families access field trips, programs, and experiences that can raise test scores, improve behavior, and open doors to college and careers.
For Seniors: Well-Being, Brain Health, and Connection
The benefits don’t stop with students. For older adults, engaging with the arts, whether by visiting museums, seeing performances, or making art themselves has been linked to:
- Improved cognitive function and memory, and even a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia among people who frequently visit cultural venues.
- Better overall physical and mental health, including reduced depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
- Higher quality of life and independence as people age.
Every time you support The Butler, you help create programming and spaces where older adults can stay mentally active, socially connected, and creatively engaged.
For Communities: Healthier, More Vibrant Places to Live
On a broader level, research has shown that engaging with arts and culture improves overall health and well-being across age groups, reduces reliance on healthcare services, and contributes measurable economic value through increased productivity and quality of life.
In other words: a strong arts ecosystem, anchored by institutions like The Butler, is a public good.
How You Can Support The Butler Institute of American Art
More than a century ago, founder J. G. Butler Jr. asked that the museum bearing his name remain free and open to all. Thanks to community support, that promise still stands.
Here’s how you can help ensure it continues:
1. Make a Donation
Your gift directly supports:
- Free admission for every visitor
- Educational programs for students and teachers
- Public lectures, concerts, and community events
- Conservation and care of the permanent collection
- Special exhibitions, like the Robert Rauschenberg centennial display
No matter the amount, your donation is a tangible vote of confidence in the power of art to educate, inspire, and transform lives.
2. Visit Often and Bring a Friend
The simplest way to support The Butler is to show up:
- Plan regular visits to explore different galleries from 18th-century portraits to contemporary abstraction.
- Bring your children or grandchildren and make the museum part of their learning journey. Sweeten this opportunity by purchasing a family membership.
- Invite older friends and relatives for a meaningful outing that supports their cognitive and emotional well-being.
Pair your visit with a coffee or lunch at Looma Café and make it a tradition.
3. Spread the Word
Share your favorite works, exhibitions, and experiences:
- Post photos (where allowed) and reflections on social media.
- Encourage local schools, youth organizations, and senior centers to partner with The Butler for visits and programs.
- Tell friends and family that admission is free—and why that matters.
4. Get Involved
Look for opportunities to engage more deeply:
- Attend lectures, concerts, and special events in Beecher Court.
- Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities or ways to serve as an ambassador for the museum.
- Support future projects that expand access, programming, and conservation, like the ongoing work in the Blue Vault.
A Legacy You Can Touch
From its world-class Impressionist holdings and 19th-century treasures to its Western art, contemporary galleries, African American collection, and sports art, The Butler Institute of American Art tells the story of who we are as a nation.
By supporting The Butler today, you’re helping:
- Raise students’ test scores and academic confidence
- Strengthen seniors’ health, independence, and sense of connection
- Preserve thousands of works of art in state-of-the-art conditions
- Keep one of America’s great free museums open to everyone
Art changes lives. At The Butler, you can see it happen every day and with your support, that impact will only grow.