The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit, and nationally accredited

art museum An art museum or art gallery is a building or space for the display of art, usually from the museum's own collection. It might be in public or private ownership and may be accessible to all or have restrictions in place. Although primarily con ...

Lakeland, Florida Lakeland is the most populous city in Polk County, Florida, part of the Tampa Bay Area, located along Interstate 4 east of Tampa. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal ci ...

. 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. 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.

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. 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 In the history of the Americas, the pre-Columbian era spans from the original settlement of North and South America in the Upper Paleolithic period through European colonization, which began with Christopher Columbus's voyage of 1492. Usually, ...

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 Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic co ...

Asian Art The history of Asian art includes a vast range of arts from various cultures, regions, and religions across the continent of Asia. The major regions of Asia include Central, East, South, Southeast, and West Asia. Central Asian art primarily c ...

African Art African art describes the modern and historical paintings, sculptures, installations, and other visual culture from native or indigenous Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and the African continent. The definition may also include the art of the ...

, European and American

Decorative Arts ] The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose object is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional. It includes most of the arts making objects for the interiors of buildings, and interior design, but not usual ...

, 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

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exhibit, and much more. 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. In affiliation with Florida Southern College, the museum houses a portion of the college’s permanent collection.

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.

European decorative arts

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

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.

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

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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 free public charter school, Lakeland Montessori Middle, is on the second floor.

References

External links

Official site

Florida Southern College

Video on Museum

Official Twitter

Official Facebook

Straughn Trout Architects photographs

Gallery

File:Lakeland Polk MoA01.jpg, File:Lakeland Polk MoA02.jpg, File:Lakeland Polk MoA04.jpg, {{authority control Art museums and galleries in Florida Museums in Polk County, Florida Buildings and structures in Lakeland, Florida Art museums established in 1966 1966 establishments in Florida