The Michigan State University Museum has been awarded a $65,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts to support Reality Check, a forward-looking exhibition exploring rapid developments in artificial intelligence and the impact on society. The exhibition will be on view in the MSU Museum’s Main Gallery from September 3 through December 12, 2026.
This support underscores the MSU Museum’s commitment to addressing urgent contemporary questions through interdisciplinary collaboration.
“Reality Check reflects the MSU Museum’s role as a creative collaboratory that brings together the arts, sciences, cultures, and technologies to explore some of the most urgent questions of our time,” said Devon Akmon, Director of the MSU Museum. “At a moment when artificial intelligence is transforming how we understand truth, identity, and civic life, this exhibition invites our community to think critically, engage deeply, and imagine the future we want to build together.”
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Reality Check looks forward rather than back, inviting audiences to consider how rapidly advancing technologies are reshaping national identity, core values, and democratic principles. By examining both the utopian possibilities and dystopian risks of artificial intelligence, the exhibition creates space for meaningful public dialogue about the societal implications of emerging technologies.
Reflecting these themes, Reality Check also models a democratic approach to museum practice. The exhibition was developed through a collaborative curatorial process involving faculty, students, and Museum staff, with eight works selected from 225 submissions. Visitors are invited to actively engage with the exhibition, reinforcing the MSU Museum’s commitment to dialogue, experimentation, and community-driven inquiry.
In announcing the award, the National Endowment for the Arts emphasized the importance of expanding access to the arts nationwide.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support opportunities across the country for Americans to experience and participate in the arts while celebrating our nation’s history,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “As we approach our country’s 250th anniversary, this is a moment to recognize the important role the arts continue to play in our lives, communities, and heritage.”
Reality Check reflects the MSU Museum’s broader commitment to interdisciplinary exploration at the intersections of arts, sciences, cultures, and technologies. Through exhibitions, public programs, and collaborative research, the Museum creates opportunities for audiences to engage with complex issues shaping our world today.