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 fun place to explore art in Bakersfield, California. It's located in Central Park, at the corner of 19th and R Streets. The museum has four galleries. These galleries show a permanent collection of art, mostly from artists in the area. They also have space for special art exhibits that visit from other places. In 2019, the museum earned a special approval from the American Alliance of Museums.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
How the Museum Started
The museum first opened its doors in 1956. It was founded by the Walter Osborn family. They named it the Cunningham Art Gallery. This was to honor their daughter, Marion Osborn Cunningham, who was an artist. Their generous gift, along with others, helped build the museum. It was constructed in Central Park, in the southeast part of downtown.
Early Years and Growth
Once the museum was finished, the city took over its care. Volunteers from the Bakersfield Art Association helped run it. The museum mainly showed art by local artists. Sometimes, it would host traveling art shows. Beautiful gardens surrounded the museum. These gardens displayed sculptures and other art pieces.
Becoming the Bakersfield Museum of Art
In 1990, the museum's management changed. It moved from the city to the Bakersfield Art Foundation. This was an independent group. At this time, its name changed to the Bakersfield Museum of Art. The museum has seen many exciting changes since then. In 1991, it received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. This means it met high standards.
In 1997, the museum began a big expansion project. This was possible thanks to large donations. The Patricia Crail Brown Foundation and Dr. George and Millie Ablin helped a lot. In June of that year, the foundation bought the land the museum was on from the city. Work then started on making the building bigger. By 2001, the new 17,400 square feet (1,620 m2) structure was completed.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Bakersfield Museum of Art is 17,400 square feet (1,620 m2) in size. It has two large galleries and two smaller ones. There are also two classrooms where you can learn about art. A big banquet hall is available for events. Outside, the museum has several lovely gardens. These gardens display different sculptures and other art forms. The museum's main art collection features works from artists in the region.
The museum's goal is to offer many visual art experiences. They do this by showing and taking care of fine art. They also have educational programs and special events. They work to connect with the community.
