"[1] In addition to housing numerous important works, the Swope Art Museum offers classes for youth, artist lectures and exhibitions.

The founding collection of the museum, assembled by its first director John Rogers Cox, focuses on American regionalism and consists of works by Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, Edward Hopper, Charles Burchfield and Zoltan Sepeshy.

Terre Haute artists in the Swope collection include Ray H. French, James Farrington Gookins, Janet Scudder, Amalia Küssner Coudert, Caroline Peddle Ball, Gilbert Wilson and Leroy Lamis.

In its many temporary exhibitions, the Swope Art Museum has highlighted work from numerous local artists including Sister Edith Pfau and John Laska.

In November 2010, USA Today named the Swope one of ten great places to see art in smaller cities.