By: Sophia Edwards | Publish Date: November 11, 2026
Kean offers galleries four galleries on the Union campus — Liberty Hall Academic Center Gallery, Nancy Dryfoos Gallery, Karl and Helen Burger Gallery, Human Rights Institute Gallery — and one on Jersey City’s campus, The Visual Arts Gallery.
The Kean Galleries and Collections host a variety of exhibitions and immerse experiences from professional artists and Kean students free of charge. From July 2025 to June 2026, Kean University’s Union art galleries saw 4,500 visitors.
While the galleries state that Kean actively supports its arts programming, other universities have cut arts-related programs due to the impact the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has on federal funding for higher education.
According to the Arts Education Partnership, universities in Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah are cutting or reducing art programs, because they’re viewed as low earning in the job field.
However, the Economic Prosperity Report (2025) conducted by Americans for the Arts reveals that nonprofit arts and cultural organizations amassed $151.7 billion in total economic activity and supported 2.6 million jobs.
At Kean, the arts are able to thrive and receive adequate financial support, allowing its galleries and programming to serve students and the community.
Casey Mathern, Executive Director of Galleries shared, “Kean is extremely generous and supportive of arts programming.”
Aside from the university and pay-as-you-wish, the galleries are funded by educational programs (CREATE, Art in Action) and individual donors. Additionally, the galleries are in the process of applying for federal grant programs and foundations.
According to Mathern, a diverse set of funding sources is a key goal for professional arts organizations; diverse funding allows the galleries to sustain and expand their programs while creating partnerships and collaborations with a wider community.
Consequently, if students want to support or get involved in the arts on campus they don’t need to contribute financially.
Mathern suggests that students can attend the galleries’ art exhibitions, free events, and encourage their professors to schedule guided tours during class time — this involvement helps to spread awareness about the arts programming Kean provides.
In September 2026, the galleries hosted an exhibition in the HRIG titled “Human Family: Works on Paper by Otávio Roth.”
Moreover, in October they hosted two exhibitions: “Twisting Wool into Thread: Works by Marcy Chevali – Reception & Artist Talk” and “Scratch and Tear: Works by Winifred McNeill – Reception & Artist Talk” in the KHBG and NDG respectively.
To view and RSVP for future Kean Galleries and Collections events, read more about the exhibitions and artist, visit Cougar Link.
Furthermore, if students want to actively participate in the galleries, they can pursue an internship (credit or stipend), join their docent programs as paid student assistants, or join post-graduation as academic specialists. See the Kean Galleries and Collections website for more information.
For Mathern, the arts hold value and great importance; their role goes beyond entertainment purposes.
“I believe the arts help us make sense of the world,” she said. “The arts are a way into complex issues, and galleries can provide an incredible informal classroom for teaching and reflection.”
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