Fort Wayne Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1897 (art school) 1921 (museum) |
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| Location | 311 East Main Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802 United States  |
The Fort Wayne Museum of Art (FWMoA) is an exciting art museum in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. It's a place where you can see amazing art from different times and places. The museum has its own special art pieces and also hosts cool art shows that travel from other cities. About 100,000 people visit FWMoA every year! It's also recognized by the American Alliance of Museums, which means it meets high standards for museums.
Contents
The Museum's Story: How FWMoA Began
The idea for the Fort Wayne Museum of Art started way back in 1888. Two artists, J. Ottis Adams and William Forsyth, began teaching art classes. These informal classes grew very popular.
From Art Classes to a Formal School
By 1897, these art classes became a real school. It was called the Fort Wayne Museum of Art School. This school helped many young artists learn and grow.
Becoming a Museum: The First Art Collection
In 1921, the school officially became a museum. This happened when a kind person named Theodore Thieme donated ten paintings. These paintings were the very first art collection for the museum.
Finding a Home: The Mossman House
For many years, the museum didn't have its own building. But in 1949, the B. Paul Mossman Home was given to the museum. This beautiful house in downtown Fort Wayne became the museum's first dedicated space. It was a big step, allowing the museum to properly show its art.
A New Chapter: Separating from the School
In 1977, the museum and the art school went their separate ways. The art school became part of Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. This allowed the museum to focus completely on its art collections and exhibitions.
A Modern Home: The Current Building
The Fort Wayne Museum of Art moved into its current building in 1984. This modern building is located at Lafayette Street and Main Street in downtown Fort Wayne. Today, the museum is a key part of the city's growing Cultural District. It stands alongside other art places like the Arts United Center. The old Mossman Home later became another art gallery called the Castle Gallery.
Exploring the Museum: What's Inside FWMoA?
The current Fort Wayne Museum of Art building is quite large. It was designed by a famous architect named Walter Netsch. The building covers about 50,000 square feet (about 4,645 square meters).
Building Design: Three Wings and an Atrium
The museum has three main parts, called "wings." These wings are for:
- Showing art (Exhibition/Collection)
- Learning and offices (Education/Administration)
- A large room for events (Auditorium)
All three wings are connected by a central glass area called an atrium. This makes the museum feel open and bright.
Recent Updates: More Space for Art and Learning
In 2008, the museum announced big plans to make itself even better. They added 10,000 square feet (about 929 square meters) more space for art shows. They also added a bistro (a small restaurant), a large library with 18,000 books, and a bigger gift shop. A special learning center for kids from kindergarten to 12th grade was also created. All these exciting changes were finished by spring 2010.
Fun Events at FWMoA: Chalk Walk
Since 1999, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art has hosted a super fun event called Chalk Walk. This event is part of the yearly Three Rivers Festival.
Creating Art on the Pavement
During Chalk Walk, people get their own special "square" on the pavement around the museum. Then, they use colorful pastels to draw amazing pictures. It's a chance for everyone to be an artist and create temporary masterpieces right on the street!
See also
