The goal of a public art collection is to provide access to unique aesthetic experiences that enrich and challenge our own perspectives of the world. Public art collections, which owe their origins to the wealthy European Salons of 18th- and 19th-century Europe, create conversations about history, culture and society by providing opportunities for intellectual growth, dialogue and debate. Art collections reveal what was important to us and what continues to be important to us — preserving and showcasing how we see ourselves and understand the world around us.