Faculty and students are encouraged to partake in the NIU Art Museum’s annual Get On the Bus trips to various local art exhibits.

Jo Burke, director of the NIU Art Museum, began the Get On the Bus trips in 1994 for students and faculty to indulge in their passion for art.

“We started with one trip a year,” Burke said. “Then we slowly began to increase it. We started going to the annual Chicago Gallery openings because they were so close.”

Burke said the trips allow for people off-campus and the community to meet new people with the same interest in art as well as help the NIU Art Museum expand their mission of exploring art.

“Part of the mission is educational outreach,” said coordinator of marketing and education, Heather Green. “It’s important that we make sure the students and people of the community feel welcome.”

The trips have a wide variety of different aspects of art ranging from art expos, artist studios, private collections, architecture and archeological sites.

“The trips are to experience a range of art from contemporary to older pieces,” Burke said. “It’s a great service to keep an eye out for if people are interested in a mix of visual art.”