University of Montana Museum of Art and Culture competing with offer from Virginia developer for old Macy’s site downtown

Barbara Koostra is hunting for a new home for the international art collection she oversees for all of Montana.

There are more than 10,000 pieces of art in this vast collection stored at the University of Montana, and more potential donations from private collectors wait in the wings.

UM does not have enough room to exhibit the impressive works and artifacts, however, and the climate-controlled storage rooms of the Montana Museum of Art and Culture http://www.umt.edu/montanamuseum/ are at maximum capacity.

The level of need – and lack of space – has reached critical proportions.

Koostra explained the conundrum this way: "It would take four lifetimes to see all of our exhibits."

In recent months, campus leaders have sought a solution, searching for a place to permanently show off its rich holdings.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian missoulian.com

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