In his September 2019 State of Indiana University at the Bicentennial speech, IU President Michael A. McRobbie announced the creation of this new museum as part of the university’s ongoing effort to care for its many precious collections and preserve the knowledge they hold.
"The new museum will marry the rich collections of the Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and the Mathers Museum of World Cultures to create a world-class museum whose collections and research resources, dynamic exhibits, engaging programming, and outreach efforts will serve IU’s education and research missions and make it a leading destination for scholars, students, and the public.
The museum will open after extensive renovation of the building currently housing the Mathers Museum of World Cultures and Glenn Black Laboratory at 416 N. Indiana Avenue on the IU Bloomington campus.