Behind the Scenes Matters: Expanding Art Prep and Storage

A museum’s ability to care for its collection is just as critical as its ability to display it. MONA’s original facility lacked the preparation and storage space needed to properly steward Nebraska’s art heritage.

The expansion added significant new conservation, prep, and vault areas—including a visible, public-facing art vault that invites visitors to see the often-invisible work of preservation. By investing in these critical “back-of-house” spaces, MONA ensures the longevity of its collection for generations to come.

Behind the Scenes, Vital Work: Expanding Art Preparation and Storage at MONA

When visitors walk through a museum, they often see the polished final result—beautifully curated galleries, inspiring exhibitions, seamless storytelling. What they rarely see is the intricate, often invisible work that makes it all possible.

At the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), that behind-the-scenes work had long been challenged by a lack of space. Limited art preparation areas, insufficient storage, and aging infrastructure placed strain not only on staff, but on the museum’s ability to properly care for Nebraska’s cultural treasures.

As part of MONA’s reimagining, we knew that investing in these hidden but vital spaces was essential. Because a great museum doesn’t just display art—it preserves, protects, and honors it.

The Challenge: Cramped Conditions and Hidden Constraints

Over the years, MONA’s collection grew in both size and significance. Yet its physical capacity to support that growth lagged behind.

• The art prep space was small, limiting the ability to properly receive, catalog, or conserve new acquisitions.
• Storage areas were tight, forcing staff to navigate cramped, less-than-ideal conditions.
• Improper art quarantine space for incoming and outgoing art.
• Temperature and humidity controls were outdated, putting sensitive artworks at risk over time.

Behind the elegant exhibitions, a quiet tension existed: How do you care for a collection that deserves more than the building could give?

The Response: Building Infrastructure for Stewardship

The reimagined MONA answers that question with clarity and commitment.

A greatly expanded basement level now houses state-of-the-art storage, art preparation, and conservation spaces—designed not only to meet today’s best practices, but to anticipate the museum’s future growth.

• Specialized environments now protect the collection with rigorous climate control and security.
• Dedicated prep areas allow staff to work efficiently, safely, and with the care that each piece deserves.
• Organization and visibility within storage systems mean the collection can be accessed and studied more easily by curators, researchers, and educators.

In short: behind every gallery now stands an infrastructure of excellence.

Celebrating What’s Often Invisible

At MONA, we also made a quiet but powerful choice: to bring some of this behind-the-scenes work into public view.

Rather than relegating the art vault to an inaccessible corner, the design incorporates strategically placed windows, offering visitors glimpses into the art storage areas. This transparency reminds every guest that preservation is part of the museum’s mission—and that the care of art is an act of love, skill, and deep responsibility.

In a world where so much attention goes to what is seen, MONA celebrates what is often unseen: the tireless efforts that make Nebraska’s artistic heritage endure.

A Legacy of Care

Art is memory. It is imagination made tangible. And it is fragile.

By expanding and modernizing its storage and preparation facilities, MONA affirms its role not just as an exhibitor of art, but as a guardian of it.