SU Statement in Response to Ward Foundation Announcement

Salisbury University remains committed to the care, preservation and public display of the University’s collection of art through the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art.

The University anticipated the relationship with the Ward Foundation, Inc. would continue through June 30, and had already provided funding to the Ward Foundation in order to pay staff and cover operating costs for the museum until the end of June. After the relationship concluded, SU intended to onboard staff from the Ward Foundation to continue to care for the collection and museum. In response to the statement from the Ward Foundation, SU has elected to accelerate that timeline, and will offer employment to the majority of the Ward Foundation staff.

Today, SU initiated conversations with those who are being eliminated by the Ward Foundation to discuss the University’s plans and how they may be a part of them.

SU continues to move forward with plans to make the collection publicly accessible in the Powell Building in downtown Salisbury, and thanks the Ward Foundation for its support of this move as the best course of action for the collection.