New Year, New Initiatives in Support of Himalayan Art

Dear Rubin Community, 

Happy New Year! 2025 ushers in a new era for the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art as a global museum. This year we are embracing the annual theme of interdependence—the mutual dependance of everything and every experience—as we pursue a wide array of initiatives that aim to give rise to the worldwide appreciation of Himalayan art.

Closing the doors of our New York City galleries last year has opened new doors to fresh experiences and initiatives locally, nationally, and internationally. This exciting next phase is a continuation and evolution of our mission, motivated by the drive to innovate and advance museum work in the 21st century.

Initiatives such as the traveling Mandala Lab (continuing its European tour in 2025) and our flagship educational initiative Project Himalayan Art have paved the way for the Museum’s transformation into a globally operating institution. As part of Project Himalayan Art, the exhibition Gateway to Himalayan Art will be shown in Utah and Minnesota this year, with 10 additional venues on the horizon.

Other projects this year include a partnership with museum colleagues in Bhutan; the fifth season of the Museum’s Webby-Honoree AWAKEN podcast; the second award of the annual Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize; grants to support art and research initiatives; and a collection sharing program that aims to expand the representation of and access to Himalayan art in other museums.

We are global, yes, but we also continue to serve New York City with our popular weekly in-person Mindfulness Meditation sessions and an annual distinguished lecture series at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This summer we will unveil a new public artwork in Queens by Nepalese artist IMAGINE (a.k.a. Sneha Shrestha) in collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation Art Program. We’re cultivating the self-awareness and emotional resilience skills of K–12 students by bringing Social, Emotional, and Ethical (SEE) Learning® practices to classrooms. And our beloved Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room installation will shine in Brooklyn as part of a six-year partnership with the Brooklyn Museum.

Throughout the year Spiral—the Rubin’s printed magazine and expanded online multimedia publication—is here to act as your guide to all things Rubin as we engage with the theme of interdependence, exploring this concept from diverse perspectives. We hope you find valuable insights in these stories and stay engaged with us as we discover how interdependence connects us all.

With anticipation and excitement for the year ahead,

Jorrit Britschgi, Executive Director

Read more in the press release