The wait is nearly over for art lovers anticipating the reinstallation of Wichita State University's iconic Joan Miró mural. 

The Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State received its third $150,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to complete the final stages of the $2.2 million restoration for Miró’s monumental glass and marble mosaic, “Personnages Oiseaux” (Bird People). This grant completes the financial campaign for the mural restoration. 

The award will support conservation expenses for the last 17 panels in the mosaic. Conservation of the mural is a groundbreaking endeavor, and research will be published after the completion of the restoration, which is expected next summer. The target date for reinstallation is November 2016. 

“We are honored that our project was chosen because of its importance to Wichita and our nation,” said Bob Workman, director of the Ulrich Museum. 

IMLS Museums for America awarded 202 out of 521 applicants funding ranging from $5,000-150,000. This is the third and final $150,000 award the Ulrich will receive from IMLS. Private funding and two National Endowment for the Arts grants paid for the remainder of the project. 

The five-year project began in July 2011 to prevent the structural collapse of the Miró’s masterpiece at WSU. After 33 years of exposure to extreme weather in Kansas, the mosaic’s tiles began to fall from the side of the museum’s building. In 2010 alone, 400 pieces fell. For the past four years, four conservators have worked laboriously to restore the historic mosaic. 

Of 11 monumental murals Miró created worldwide, four reside in the United States. Of the four, the Ulrich Museum’s is the largest, one of only two outside New York City, and one of only two mosaics. It is also the only predominately glass mosaic the artist ever created. 

IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of IMLS.