Update on the Iowa museums

Since it's been almost a month since I updated readers on what was going on with Iowa museums after the flood...

University of Iowa Museum of Art: Interim director Pamela White told me that it's possible that the museum will abandon its current building for a new structure somewhere else in Iowa City. The reason: Not so much damage to its existing building (although that may end up as an issue), but the potential need to remove UIMA from the floodplain. (White said that a story in yesterday's Cedar Rapids Gazette slightly overplayed the likelihood of a move.)

All of the museum's artwork is now out of the building and White says that there is no permanent damage to any works of art.

Also possible: While UIMA determines what and where its future will be, the museum will likely launch exhibits elsewhere around the Iowa campus. ("We want to stay visible," White said.) Also: Because it may be quite some time before works from the museum's permanent collection are able to be on view in Iowa City, the museum may put together a small traveling show of its collection.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art: Director Terence Pitts told me that his museum had sewage enter its collection storage areas. However 98 percent of the collection was safe. Pitts estimated that it will take $250,000 in uninsured costs to get back open and operational. The museum's entire collection is now in its second floor galleries and will likely remain there for 6-12 months. When the museum re-opens on Labor Day, it will only open its first floor. For now the museum is receiving climate control from massive machinery on its loading dock.

National Czech and Slovak Museum: The museum suffered the loss of its current exhibition and had 12 feet of water in its building. Only two trucks worth of its collection were removed before the flood hit.