Mission

The Williams College Museum of Art creates and inspires exceptional experiences with art that are integral to a liberal arts education, lifelong learning, and human connection.

Vision
The Williams College Museum of Art creates and inspires exceptional opportunities for students, faculty, and the public to have meaningful experiences with art. The Museum is a partner in nurturing the cross-disciplinary arts in support of a liberal arts education; advancing the academic and experiential preparation of arts leaders; enriching the cultural ecosystem; engaging artists; and creating a shared learning community that spurs new thinking, creative making, and responsible action. The stewardship, growth, critical study, interpretation, and accessibility of the Museum’s distinctive collection is paramount to the institution’s sustained relevance as a catalytic teaching museum and a leader in the future of the arts.
Strategic Plan
Louise Bourgeois, Eyes (nine elements), 200. Photo by Elizabeth Leitzell

Louise Bourgeois (American, 1911–2010), Eyes (nine elements), 2001. Granite, bronze, and electric light. Commissioned on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the museum with funds from the Museum Fellows, friends, and endowments. M.2001.14. Photo by Elizabeth Leitzell.

In 2020, WCMA published a five-year strategic plan which identifies seven mission-critical areas as opportunities for growth and development leading up to the museum’s centennial in 2026. Through 2025, we are focused on the following priorities:

Teaching and Learning with Art
Mining and Diversifying the Collection
Nurturing the Cross-Disciplinary Arts
Partnering across the Cultural Ecosystem
Influencing the Future of the Arts
Advancing Infrastructure and Sustainability
Exploring a New Home for the Museum

Click the button below to read the museum’s strategic plan.