For the past 41 years, the Vincent A. Hartgen Traveling Exhibition Program: Museums by Mail has circulated 40-50 exhibitions, annually throughout Maine. Drawn from the University of Maine Museum of Art's permanent collection, this program makes the experience of viewing real art within the reach of schools and civic organizations across the state.

Museums by Mail allows appropriate groups (including schools, hospitals, town halls, etc.) to borrow up to four exhibitions of original artwork each year from the museum's collection. Available for month-long viewings from September through May, each exhibition contains anywhere from five to twenty-six works of art, ready to hang and packed with accompanying text and information. Some exhibitions even come with lesson plans!

The shows are FREE. There is no rental fee. As a borrower, however, you must pay the shipping charges for sending the exhibition to the next location, and you must insure the exhibit for $500 while it is on your premises and in transit to the next location. Postage and insurance for each exhibit typically cost about $10.00.

To request an exhibit for your organization fill out the form that comes with the schedule of programs sent to our mailing list each spring. Scheduling for the coming academic year is done in the summer, and requests must be postmarked by July 1.

To be added to our Museums By Mail mailing list for next year, please contact the Registrar at 561-3366.

Please note that at this time UMMA is only able to distribute Museums by Mail to Maine schools and organizations.

The Vincent A. Hartgen Traveling Exhibitions program is supported by a grant from the Patrons of the Arts.