Bronx Museum of the Arts facts for kids
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | 1040 Grand Concourse Bronx, New York 10456, United States |
| Type | Art museum |
| Founder | Irma Fleck |
| Public transit access |
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The Bronx Museum of the Arts (also known as the Bronx Museum) is a cool place in the Bronx, New York. It's a museum that shows off modern art and art from the 1900s, mostly by American artists. However, it also features art and designs from places like Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
The museum has a huge collection of over 800 pieces. These include paintings, sculptures, photographs, and drawings. The museum building is part of the Grand Concourse Historic District, which is a special area known for its history and architecture.
Contents
History of the Bronx Museum
The Bronx Museum of the Arts first opened to get more people in the Bronx excited about art. It also aimed to serve all the different communities living there.
Early Days and First Location
The museum opened its doors on May 11, 1971. This was a team effort between the Bronx Council on the Arts (which started in 1961) and the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art. The opening happened during a special "Bronx Day" event for the whole borough.
The very first art show had 28 paintings borrowed from the Met's collection. The museum was originally set up in the main hall of the Bronx County Courthouse. This space was changed into a museum using about $77,000 from the city. The museum also had smaller galleries in other Bronx neighborhoods like Co-op City, Bedford Park, and Allerton. In its first 12 years, the museum put on more than 350 art shows!
Moving to a New Home
In 1982, the city bought an empty synagogue building. This building was located at 165th Street and the Grand Concourse. It became the museum's new home.
The new museum opened in May 1983, during "Bronx Week." The first exhibition there showed art from the 1900s. It included paintings, photos, and prints, again borrowed from the Met. The museum was expanded and updated in 1988. This project cost $5.8 million.
Growing Bigger and Free Admission
In February 2004, a big expansion project began. This $19 million project made the museum twice as large. It opened in October 2006.
In 2008, a 3,000 square foot arts center was added. This new space was created for educational programs. These programs help local schoolchildren and their families learn about art. A big change happened on March 29, 2012. From that day on, the museum stopped charging admission for everyone. Before, it was only free on Fridays.
In 2016, the museum announced a $25 million plan. This plan was for more renovations and expansions. It also aimed to create a $10 million fund to help the museum in the future. The mayor, Bill de Blasio, gave $7 million towards this plan. The rest of the money was planned to be raised from private donations. A new renovation plan was revealed in 2022. Work on this $33 million renovation started in July 2024.
The Museum Building
The Bronx Museum is located in the Concourse neighborhood. This is in the South Bronx, not far from Yankee Stadium. The building was originally a synagogue called Young Israel of the Concourse. It was built between 1959 and 1961. In the early 1980s, it was turned into a museum. This change cost $2 million and used materials like concrete, steel, and glass.
Updates and New Designs
The 1988 expansion changed the outside of the building. It added black granite and metal. Large "ribbon windows" were also put on the front. A three-story glass entrance hall, called an atrium, was built at one corner. This atrium became the museum's main lobby.
The 2006 expansion added a new three-story building. This North Wing was next to the original structure. It has a bigger entrance and a two-story lobby. It also includes a new art gallery and better spaces for educational programs. The outside of this new part looks like a "pleated aluminum facade." It has seven vertical aluminum pieces that look like an accordion or a paper fan. The side of the building has black and white concrete blocks in cool patterns. These walls can be removed in the future if the museum expands even more. There is also a sculpture garden on the second floor at the back.
Art Exhibitions
The Bronx Museum has hosted many interesting art shows over the years.
Showcasing Diverse Artists
In 1986, the museum started a series called "A Decade of En Foco." This series showed art by photographers from the En Foco organization. This group helps promote the work of Hispanic artists.
In 1987, two exhibitions got a lot of attention. One was a look back at the career of African American artist Romare Bearden. The other showed the new world of computer-generated art. More recent shows have included "Tropicalia: A Revolution in Brazilian Culture" in 2006. In 2008, there was a show of street photography by Jamel Shabazz.
In 2013, the museum won a special competition. It got to represent the United States at the 2013 Venice Biennale. For this event, the museum asked artist Sarah Sze to create an art installation called "Triple Point." From 2015 to 2016, the museum had a show about Martin Wong's art called Martin Wong: Human Instamatic. In 2016, the museum featured an exhibition called "Mask" by photographer Frank Gimpaya.
Helping New Artists
The museum also runs a program every year called "The Artist in the Marketplace" (AIM). A group of art experts chooses artists to join this program. The goal is to help new artists meet people and grow their careers. The program ends with an exhibition at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.
How the Museum is Run
The idea for the museum came from Irma Fleck. She wanted to help improve the South Bronx area. She was a member of the Bronx Council of the Arts.
Directors and Funding
In 2006, Holly Block became the museum's director. One of her most famous decisions was making admission free in 2012. After this, the number of visitors to the museum grew four times bigger!
In 2011, museum leaders also created a group of local residents. These "cultural ambassadors" help advise the museum on how to connect with the community. In July 2018, Deborah Cullen became the director. She left in 2019.
Klaudio Rodriguez, who was the deputy director, became the interim director in December 2019. He had joined the museum in 2017. In November 2020, he became the official executive director.
The museum has a budget of $3.5 million each year. It used to get most of its money from the government. Now, it gets most of its funding from companies, foundations, and private donations. The museum usually spends between $10,000 and $50,000 a year to buy new art. It also receives art as gifts. In 2013, it raised $1 million for a new fund. This fund helps buy art from modern artists who have strong connections to the Bronx. The museum is a nonprofit organization.
See also
- List of art museums
- List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City
