Since the College’s founding, alumni, faculty, and friends have contributed artworks to Bennington for multiple purposes. As a college that has never had an art museum, Bennington acts as a steward of these generous gifts, loaning works to exhibitions, using them as teaching resources, displaying works on campus, and auctioning works to benefit the College, all while honoring donor intentions.
As part of our ongoing work in diversity, equity and inclusion, the Crossett Library staff read and discussed the article Pursuit of Antiracist Social Justice: Denaturalizing Whiteness in the Academic Library. One decision made as an outcome of this discussion was to change the art in the library to include more artists of color, more women artists, and more LGBTQ+ artists, as well as provide more information about the works on display. The staff worked closely with Erin McKenny, Design and planning coordinator, and Director of the Robert Frost Stone House Museum, to identify available works in the College collection and locations in the library for display. Crossett Library is pleased to display this art from Bennington College's collection for our community to study and enjoy. Most of the art is in accessible public spaces in the library but there is also some in offices. If you are interested in seeing an artwork that is in one of the offices please just let us know.