Arlington Museum of Art facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Arlington Museum of Art

Previous location of the Arlington Museum of Art
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Established	1989
Location	Arlington, Texas, United States
Type	Art museum
Founder	Howard and Arista Joyner

The Arlington Museum of Art is a special place in Arlington, Texas. It's an art museum that doesn't collect art permanently. Instead, it brings in amazing art shows from all over the world. You can see famous paintings, sculptures, and more here! The museum also has fun workshops for adults and kids. They even show movies and host interesting talks about art. It's a non-profit group run by a team of leaders. In 2024, the museum moved to a much bigger spot in the city's Entertainment District.

A Look Back: The Museum's Story

The museum's story began in 1952. That's when Howard and Arista Joyner started the Arlington Art Association. Howard Joyner helped create the Art Department at the University of Texas at Arlington. Arista Joyner was the first art teacher at Arlington High School.

Early Days and First Home

The Arlington Art Association worked to share art with the city. They held art shows and auctions. These events helped raise money for scholarships for high school students. The group also saved money to buy a building. They wanted a permanent home for art in Arlington.

In 1986, the association bought an old J. C. Penney store. It was on Main Street in downtown Arlington. They worked hard to fix it up. In 1989, they officially became the Arlington Museum of Art. The first art show opened in May 1990. It showed modern art.

New Leaders and Growth

In 1991, Joan Davidow became the museum's first full-time director. She had worked at the Dallas Museum of Art. Joan focused on showing art from Texas. During her time, the museum's budget grew a lot. Big companies like Lockheed Martin helped support the museum.

Joan Davidow was known for her creative ideas. She brought exciting and new art to Texas. She also started a summer art camp for kids. Plus, she made sure families had fun activities at each art show.

In 2001, Anne Allen became the new director. She added more programs, like talks by artists. The museum kept growing and offering new experiences.

A Fresh Start and New Focus

In 2012, the museum changed its plans a bit. Chris Hightower, a former board member, became the new director. Under his leadership, the museum started showing all kinds of art. This included art that was important historically and culturally.

The museum also began to add special events for each show. They got money through grants to help pay for these. They also started renting out parts of the museum for events.

In 2015, a kind person named Sam Mahrouq gave the museum a large gift. This money helped the museum pay off its building loan.

Moving to a Bigger Space

In early 2024, the museum moved to a new location. It's now at the City's Esports Stadium and Expo Center. This new spot is much larger. The museum now has about 48,000 square feet of space. This is a big jump from the 5,500 square feet it had before. This move means the museum can host even bigger and better art shows!

Amazing Art Shows

The Arlington Museum of Art has shown many famous works. They have hosted traveling exhibits. These have included photos by Ansel Adams and art by Salvador Dalí. You could also see photos of Marilyn Monroe by Milton H. Greene.

Diverse Collections

The museum has also featured art from the Harlem Renaissance. This included works by artists like Jacob Lawrence. They've shown Japanese woodblock prints by Utagawa Hiroshige. Photos by Vivian Maier and art by Knox Martin have also been displayed.

One special exhibit was all about Pablo Picasso's ceramics. The museum even had an exclusive show on Keith Haring. They've also displayed unique "edible art" sculptures. And they've shown real movie costumes! These included costumes from Pirates of the Caribbean and The Phantom of The Opera.

Gallery

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  Museum interior, during Youth Art Month

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  Museum interior

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  Museum interior

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  Star-Telegram Amphitheater