Polk Museum of Art

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit,[1] and nationally accredited art museum in Lakeland, Florida.[2] It is a member of the Florida Association of Museums, is ranked among the top art museums in the state of Florida,[3] and is a Smithsonian Affiliate.[4] Admission to the museum is free to the general public.[5] On June 1, 2017, the Polk Museum of Art, a private community museum, entered an affiliation agreement with Florida Southern College in order to advance the mission of both entities and better serve the community.[6]

Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College
Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida
Polk Museum of Art is located in Florida
Polk Museum of Art
Location within Florida
Polk Museum of Art is located in the United States
Polk Museum of Art
Polk Museum of Art (the United States)
Established1966
LocationLakeland, Florida
Coordinates28.03686°N 81.94895°W / 28.03686; -81.94895
TypeArt museum
DirectorH. Alexander Rich
Websitewww.polkmuseumofart.org

History

The museum was originally established by the Junior Welfare League in 1966 and called Imperial Youth Museum. It was renamed Polk Public Museum in 1969 as part of its expanded focus on art, history, and science. The Board of Trustees for the Polk Public Museum acquired a vacant Publix Super Market in 1970. This property doubled the museum’s exhibition and classroom facilities. The Museum staff then partnered with the School Board of Polk County to create a curriculum-based art education program for Polk County students.[7] The museum's current name, Polk Museum of Art, was adopted as part of its first building campaign in the 1980s.[8] The building was designed by architect Ernie Straughn and was completed in 1988.[9]

Collections and exhibitions

The Polk Museum of Art (PMoA) currently displays art from the Pre-Columbian era through the contemporary, featuring hundreds of works each year in a variety of exhibits that often revolve around a central theme. It boasts a permanent collection of over 2,500 works including student work,[10] Pre-Columbian Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Asian Art, African Art, European and American Decorative Arts,[11] and the sculptures in its outdoor gardens.[12] PMoA also dedicates much of its physical space to temporary exhibitions, including both local artwork and traveling exhibits, which provide diverse displays that include American folk art, modern masters, Japanese prints and textiles, African art, African American Art, a Moon Museum exhibit,[13] and much more.[14]

The Polk Museum of Art also created their first virtual exhibit on their website for viewers to browse virtually. This exhibit is called "Hindsight 2020" and features works from March 2020 through August 2020. [15]

In affiliation with Florida Southern College, the museum houses a portion of the college’s permanent collection. [16]

Murray Gallery on the second floor.

Modern and Contemporary Art

The Modern & Contemporary Art collection originally focused on Florida art. The collection now includes works by other Latinos, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans.[16]

European decorative arts
It Rains Manna (Piove la Manna) plate 16th century majolica.)

This collection includes European ceramics from the 15th to 19th century, English silver, and American silver from the 18th and 19th centuries. [16]

African art

This collection originated in 2004 after a donation of 56 traditional pieces of work. The collection features a variety of media and includes work from numerous African cultures.[16]

Education

The Mission Statement of PMoA is that "The Polk Museum of Art enhances the lives of our varied communities by bringing people and art together."[8] Because of this, the museum invests heavily in its Education Department and educational programming for both children and adults. Some of these initiatives include tours of the museum, art camps for children and families, and classes and workshops on subjects such as photography, drawing, and painting.[17] There is also a program called "Meet Me at PMoA: Making Art Accessible to People with Dementia," where participants with dementia meet monthly to "create and discuss art."[18] "Changing Lives Through Art" is the museum's outreach program, which aims to help at-risk members of the community, including teenage mothers and children in homeless shelters.[19]

The free public charter school, Lakeland Montessori Middle, was formally located on the second floor.[20]

See also

References
  1. "Polk Museum of Art". Traditional Fine Arts Organization.
  2. "Arts & Culture". City of Lakeland, Florida.
  3. "Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, Florida". www.flamuseums.org. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  4. "Polk Museum of Art". Lakeland Economic Development Council. Archived from the original on 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  5. Dorsey, Janine. "Polk Museum of Art now free year-round". TBO.com. The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  6. Pera, Eric. "Florida Southern, Polk Museum Plan Partnership". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  7. "Mission & History". Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  8. "Visitor Info". Polk Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  9. "Visitor Info FAQs". Polk Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  10. "Student Exhibitions". polkmuseumofart.org. Polk Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  11. "Collections". polkmuseumofart.org. Polk Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 2015-10-13. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  12. "Polk Museum of Art". VisitCentralFlorida.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  13. Ferguson, Lance. "Polk Museum of Art Presents 'Moon Museum' Exhibit". TheLedger.com. The Ledger.
  14. "Exhibitions". polkmuseumofart.org. Polk Museum of Art.
  15. "Polk Museum of Art presents first virtual exhibit". The Southern. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  16. "Our Collections". Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  17. "Education". polkmuseumofart.org. Polk Museum of Art.
  18. "Meet Me at PMoA: Making Art Accessible to People with Dementia". polkmuseumofart.org. Polk Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  19. Campbell, Tara. "CHANGING LIVES THROUGH ART". thelakelander.com. The Lakelander.
  20. "Lakeland Montessori". Lakeland Montessori. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
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