Established 1966 Type Art museum Director Claire Orologas Founded 1966 | Location Lakeland, Florida Curator Adam Justice Phone +1 863-688-7743 | |
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Website www.polkmuseumofart.org Address 800 E Palmetto St, Lakeland, FL 33801, USA Hours Open today · 10AM–5PMThursday10AM–5PMFriday10AM–5PMSaturday10AM–5PMSunday1–5PMMondayClosedTuesday10AM–5PMWednesday10AM–5PMSuggest an edit Similar Lakeland Center, Polk Theatre, Explorations V Children, Munn Park Historic District, Lake Mirror | ||
Polk museum of art
The Polk Museum of Art is a private, non-profit, and nationally accredited art museum in Lakeland, Florida. It is a member of the Florida Association of Museums, is ranked among the top art museums in the state of Florida, and is a Smithsonian Affiliate. Admission to the museum is free to the general public.
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Polk museum of art located in central florida polk county
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 museum's current name, Polk Museum of Art, was adopted as part of its first building campaign in the 1980s. The building was designed by architect Ernie Straughn and was completed in 1988.
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, Pre-Columbian Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Asian Art, African Art, European and American Decorative Arts, and the sculptures in its outdoor gardens. 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, and much more.
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." 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. 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." “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.
The school, Lakeland Montessori Middle resides on the second floor.