ToonSeum: Pittsburgh Museum of Cartoon Art is a museum devoted exclusively to the
cartoon
A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...
arts, located in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
.
ToonSeum is one of three museums dedicated to cartoon art in the United States.
ToonSeum moved to its own gallery space on
Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's downtown
Cultural District on November 8, 2009, aided by the
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (PCT) is a nonprofit arts organization formed in 1984 to promote economic and cultural development in Downtown Pittsburgh. The "Trust" has focused its work on a 14-square block section called the Cultural District, wh ...
.
It is currently led by John Kelly.
In 2009, the ToonSeum established its NEMO Award, given to notable individuals "for excellence in the cartoon arts". Recipients to date include veteran comic-book artist
Ron Frenz
Ronald Wade Frenz (born February 1, 1960) is an American comics artist known for his work for Marvel Comics. He is well known for his 1980s work on ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' and later for his work on '' Spider-Girl'' whom he co-created with writ ...
, editorial and comic-strip artist
Dick Locher
Richard Earl Locher (June 4, 1929 – August 6, 2017) was an American syndicated cartoonist.
Early life and career
Locher was born in Dubuque, Iowa. After high school, he began studying art at the University of Iowa and the Chicago Academy of ...
, and comics artist, editorial cartoonist and artists' rights advocate
Jerry Robinson
Sherrill David Robinson (January 1, 1922 – December 7, 2011), known as Jerry Robinson, was an American comic book artist known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s. He is best known as the co-creator of Robin and ...
. In May 2013, ToonSeum hosted the two-day North American Conference of the
National Cartoonists Society
The National Cartoonists Society (NCS) is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the ...
. In that same month, plans for expansion of the museum were announced.
On February 16, 2018, the ToonSeum announced on their Facebook page that they would close the physical location on Liberty avenue February 24, 2018 to focus on direct community outreach.
References
External links
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Art museums and galleries in Pennsylvania
Cartooning museums
Mass media museums in the United States
Museums in Pittsburgh
Art museums established in 2007
2007 establishments in Pennsylvania
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