Bakersfield Museum of Art facts for kids
Entrance sign on R Street
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| Former name | Cunningham Art Gallery |
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| Established | 1954 |
| Location | Bakersfield, California |
| Type | Art museum |
| Public transit access | GET Rt. 8 (Foothill) |
The Bakersfield Museum of Art is a cool place in Bakersfield, California, where you can see amazing art! It's located in Central Park, right at the corner of 19th Street and R Street. The museum has four galleries filled with art, mostly from artists in the area. It also has special rooms for art shows that travel from other places. In 2019, the museum received a special approval from the American Alliance of Museums, which means it's a really good museum!
How the Museum Started
The museum began in 1956. It was started by the Walter Osborn family. They named it the Cunningham Art Gallery. This was to remember their daughter, Marion Osborn Cunningham. She was an artist who passed away. The Osborn family's gift, along with others, helped build the museum. It was built in Central Park, in the southeast part of downtown.
When the museum was finished, the city took care of it. Volunteers from the Bakersfield Art Association helped run it. The city also had an Art Commission that helped. The museum mostly showed art from local artists. Sometimes, it would host art shows that traveled from other places. The museum was also surrounded by beautiful gardens. These gardens displayed sculptures and other types of art.
Growing and Changing
In 1990, the museum's management changed. It moved from the city to the Bakersfield Art Foundation. This foundation is a group that runs the museum independently. At this time, the name also changed. It became the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Since then, the museum has grown a lot.
Just one year later, in 1991, the museum got a special approval. This came from the American Alliance of Museums. This means the museum meets high standards. In 1997, the museum started a big plan to get bigger. This was possible because of large gifts. These gifts came from the Patricia Crail Brown Foundation and from Dr. George and Millie Ablin. In June of that same year, the foundation bought the land. They bought it from the city. Then, work began to make the building larger. By 2001, the new part of the building was finished. It added 17,400 square feet (1,620 m2) of space.
What You'll Find Inside
The Bakersfield Museum of Art is a large building. It is 17,400 square feet (1,620 m2) in size. Inside, you will find two big art galleries. There are also two smaller galleries. The museum has two classrooms where people can learn about art. It also has a large hall for events.
Outside the museum, there are several gardens. These gardens show off different sculptures. You can also see other types of art there. The museum's main collection has art mostly from artists in the local area.
The museum's goal is to offer many art experiences. They show and protect beautiful art. They also have educational programs. They reach out to the community. And they host special events for everyone to enjoy.
