The move brings Collinson back to the Midwest. He grew up in Lawrence, Kan., home to the University of Kansas. It's great to live in a place like that. The mix of people is terrific. He said Iowa City and the UI, which emphasize the arts, are an ideal location.
People are well-traveled now.
They've been to museums. They know what's there, and they have high standards. While the community may view the arts as important, that doesn't mean everyone has the knowledge to fully understand and appreciate what it is seen. Much as a neurosurgeon or hydraulic engineer would need to explain his trade to Collinson, the museum director might need to explain what it takes to truly understand a work of art, he says. That gets back to Collinson's idea of bridges, of reaching out to patrons to show them why the things they are viewing are worth viewing.