TTU System Public Art Collection Ranked Nationally as a Top-10 Outdoor Museum by Fodor’s Travel
The TTU System Public Art Collection includes more than 100 pieces from world-renowned artists across its four universities.
December 21, 2020 | Contact: Scott Lacefield
Emily WilkinsonThe Texas Tech University System Public Art Collection was recently ranked one of the top 10 outdoor museums in the nation by Fodor’s Travel.
Fodor’s ranking of the 10 Spectacular Outdoor Art Museums to Explore Right Now includes museums and art collections across the country, which consist of collections in Ohio, New York, Michigan, Louisiana, Washington, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Texas.
“We are honored to receive this distinction from an internationally renowned travel publication like Fodor’s,” said Emily Wilkinson, director of the TTU System Public Art Collection. “As the world is trying to find meaningful and safe activities during this pandemic, public art has been an opportunity to view and interact with art in a safe environment. We are happy to be able to provide this to the TTU System communities.”
The Public Art Collection at the TTU System was initiated by the Board of Regents in 1998 to enrich the campus environments and extend the educational mission at all the System’s universities. Art pieces are funded using one percent of the estimated total cost of each new major capital project.
This is not the first top-10 national ranking the TTU System Public Art Collection has received, as the Public Art Review—the leading journal in the field of public art—has also tabbed the collection as one of the top 10 in the country.
“This is a major accomplishment for our universities, the art across our campuses and our Public Art Collection,” said Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., chancellor of the TTU System. “Our art collection is a point of pride for our students, faculty and staff, and something we enjoy sharing with our communities and visitors.”
Find out more information about the TTU System Public Art Collection on social media (@ttuspublicart) or on its app, ArTTrek, available for download in the app store and Google Play.
About the Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the Texas Tech University System is a $2 billion higher education enterprise focused on advancing higher education,
health care, research and community outreach. Consisting of four universities – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso – the TTU System collectively has approximately 57,000 students, 21 academic locations in 18 cities (16 in Texas, 2 internationally), more than 300,000 alumni and an endowment
valued at over $1.3 billion.
During the 86th Texas Legislature under the leadership of Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., legislative funding and authority was provided to establish a new Texas Tech University veterinary school in Amarillo and a new dental school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. This will be the state’s first veterinary school in more than a century and first dental school in over 50 years. The addition of these two schools makes the Texas Tech University System one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education, among other academic areas.