Chazen Museum of Art
Tutoring & Education Services
750-800 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706 (608) 263-2246 www.chazen.wisc.eduAbout
The Chazen Museum of Art, situated between two lakes on the picturesque University of Wisconsin–Madison campus and near the state capitol, serves as a prominent cultural institution in Madison, WI. Its expansive 176,000 square feet of museum space houses an impressive collection of approximately 25,000 works of art. This diverse collection spans numerous historical periods, cultures, and geographic locations, ranging from ancient Greece and Western Europe to Moghul India, 18th-century Japan, and modern Africa.
The museum's core mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit these significant works, while also presenting related educational programs. These efforts directly support the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s foundational mission of education, research, and public service. The Chazen is deeply committed to the belief that visual arts enrich individual human experience and are essential for understanding diverse cultures, both past and present, with a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
Originally established in 1970 as the Elvehjem Art Center, the museum underwent a significant expansion in 2011, doubling its size and enhancing its capacity to engage with the community. It actively fosters student engagement through ambassador programs and various events, solidifying its role as a dynamic and accessible educational resource for the university and the wider public.