PRESS ROOM

February 12, 2009

CSUSB ART MUSEUM EXTENDS MAJOR EGYPTIAN EXHIBIT FROM LONDON

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - As any good performance deserves, the Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum at Cal State San Bernardino is providing its rare Egyptian exhibit an encore presentation.

Previously scheduled to close on Feb. 15, 2009, "Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology," will be extended one more week, now closing on Feb. 22, 2009. With thousands viewing the exhibit since it opened in late November, the RVF Art Museum will open its doors to visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the entire last week - Sunday to Sunday -- of the show.

More than 220 objects are currently on display portraying the daily life and burial of the ancient Egyptians. The world's earliest surviving dress (cir. 2800 B.C.), gold mummy masks, a coffin and royal art from King Akhenaten's palace city of Amarna are among the treasures included in the exhibit.

A portion of this extensive and prized Egyptian collection, housed at the University College London, has been touring the United States for the first time in its history. The lone venue for the exhibit on the west coast, the RVF Art Museum is its second to last stop on its U.S. visit.

"Excavating Egypt " is the first major show to arrive at the RVF since its accreditation in March 2008. Of the more than 17,500 museums in the United States , the American Association of Museums has accredited only 4 percent. As one of the major exhibitors of ancient Egyptian art west of the Mississippi River, the RVF Art Museum is proud to host "Excavating Egypt" as its first international show.

Through Feb. 22, 2009 - the length of the "Excavating Egypt" exhibit - the RVF Art Museum is charging a $5 admission fee for all shows. Senior citizens and students are $3 and all CSUSB students, faculty and staff and children under the age of 6 are free.

Regular museum hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. Parking is $5 per vehicle. For more information, call (909) 537-7373 or log onto the Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum Web site.

The "Excavating Egypt" exhibition is sponsored by the County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors and the County of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency.