Fralin Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1935 (as the University of Virginia Art Museum) |
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| Location | 155 Rugby Road, Thomas H. Bayly Building, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904 United States |
| Type | Art museum |
The Fralin Museum of Art is an exciting art museum located at the University of Virginia. Before 2012, it was known as the University of Virginia Art Museum. You can find it in the historic Thomas H. Bayly Building in Charlottesville, Virginia. It's not far from the famous Rotunda.
The museum has a huge collection of almost 14,000 artworks! It features art from Africa, Native American cultures, and paintings, photos, and drawings from Europe and America. The Fralin Museum is a teaching museum. This means it helps university students learn about art. It also offers many programs for the community. The best part is that admission is free for everyone!
In 2012, Cynthia and W. Heywood Fralin made a very generous gift. They announced they would give their amazing collection of American art to the museum. To honor their gift and Heywood Fralin's work, the museum was renamed The Fralin Museum of Art.
Contents
History of the Museum
Early Years
The museum first opened its doors in 1935. It was in a building designed by Edmund S. Campbell. He was the dean of the School of Art and Architecture. He also became the museum's first director.
At first, the museum had a small art collection. Most of the university's art was kept in the Special Collections Library. This included important decorative art and documents from Thomas Jefferson. The museum closed during World War II. It also closed again in the 1960s. This was because the School of Architecture needed the building for classrooms.
The museum reopened in 1974. It became part of the Art Department. Frederick Hartt, the department's chair, became the director. David B. Lawall was appointed as the curator.
Growing the Collection
When David B. Lawall became director in 1985, the museum grew a lot. It received many new artworks through gifts, purchases, and loans. By 1995, the collection had about 8,500 objects.
After Lawall, other directors led the museum. These included Anthony G. Hirschel, Jill Hartz, Elizabeth Hutton Turner, and Bruce Boucher. In 2016, Matthew McLendon became the director and chief curator. During his time, the museum grew its public programs. It also saw more visitors and added money for staff and programs.
The Fralin Museum first received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2001. This means it meets high standards for museums. It was re-accredited most recently in 2021. The museum has 6,000 square feet for showing art and teaching. After a $2 million renovation in 2009, it added special galleries. These include Print Study and Object Study galleries.
Learning and Community Programs
In 2012, M. Jordan Love became the full-time academic curator. This was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The museum works closely with university departments. In 2007–2008, six departments used museum art in their classes. By 2015-2016, this number grew to twenty-four departments!
The museum also has online programs. These let students and the public explore the art collection from anywhere. The Fralin Museum offers great programs for the local community too:
- Eyes On Art: This program is for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.
- Early Visions: University students work with children from the Charlottesville Boys and Girls Clubs.
- Writer's Eye: This program invites kids and adults to write stories or poems. Their writing is inspired by artworks in the museum. These programs help visitors learn about different cultures and historical times.
What You Can See There
The museum's collection is very strong in certain areas. It has 18th, 19th, and 20th-century American and European paintings. You can also see Old Master and modern prints and drawings. There are many 19th, 20th, and 21st-century photographs. The museum also has East and South Asian paintings. Plus, it features African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art and artifacts.
Today, the museum has a wide-ranging collection of almost 14,000 objects. It continues to collect art, especially Native American and non-Western art.
The university also has another important collection. It's one of the most significant collections of Australian Aboriginal art outside Australia. This is the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection.
See also
- List of art museums
- List of museums in Virginia
