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 in Charlottesville, Virginia. It's a special place where you can explore art from many different cultures and time periods! Before 2012, it was known as the University of Virginia Art Museum.
The museum is home to a huge collection of nearly 14,000 art pieces. You can discover amazing African art, beautiful Native American art, and wonderful paintings, photographs, and drawings from Europe and America. The Fralin Museum is also a "teaching museum." This means it helps university students learn about art and history. It also offers many fun programs for everyone in the community. The best part is that admission is free, so anyone can visit!
In 2012, Cynthia and W. Heywood Fralin made a very generous gift to the museum. They decided to donate their collection of American art. Because of their kindness and Heywood Fralin's dedication to the university and the arts, the museum was renamed The Fralin Museum of Art.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's Story
The Fralin Museum first opened its doors in 1935. It was located in a building designed by Edmund S. Campbell, who was also the museum's first director. At first, the museum had a small collection of art. Most of the university's art and historical items were kept in the Special Collections Library.
The museum had to close a couple of times. It closed during World War II and again in the 1960s. After these closures, the museum reopened in 1974. It became part of the Art Department at the university.
Growing the Collection
In 1985, David B. Lawall became the director. During his time, the museum's collection grew a lot! Many new artworks were added through gifts, purchases, and loans. By 1995, the museum had about 8,500 objects.
Over the years, several other directors have led the museum. These include Anthony G. Hirschel, Jill Hartz, Elizabeth Hutton Turner, and Bruce Boucher. In 2016, Matthew McLendon became the director. He helped the museum grow its public programs and attendance. He also helped add more online resources for everyone to enjoy.
In 2023, Matthew McLendon left the museum. After a search, Karen Elizabeth Milbourne was chosen to lead The Fralin. She has a lot of experience with art, especially African art. She used to be a senior curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.
Museum Recognition
The Fralin Museum was first recognized by the American Alliance of Museums in 2001. This means it meets high standards for museums. It was re-recognized most recently in 2021. The museum has special areas for showing art and for teaching. These include Print Study and Object Study galleries. These were added after a big renovation in 2009.
Connecting with People: Programs and Outreach
The Fralin Museum works hard to connect with both university students and the local community. In 2012, M. Jordan Love became the full-time academic curator. This role helps connect the museum's art with university classes.
Learning with Art
More and more university departments are using the museum's art in their courses. In 2007–2008, six departments used museum objects. By 2015–2016, that number had grown to twenty-four departments! The museum also has online programs. These allow students and the public to explore the art collection from anywhere.
Community Programs
The museum offers several special programs for the community:
- Eyes On Art: This program is for people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. It helps them connect with art.
- Early Visions: University student guides work with children from the Charlottesville Boys and Girls Clubs. They explore art together.
- Writer's Eye: This program invites children and adults to write stories or poems inspired by the artworks. It's a creative way to explore different cultures and historical times.
What You Can See: The Collection
The Fralin Museum has a wide variety of art. Some of the strongest areas in the collection include:
- American and European paintings from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s.
- Old Master and modern prints and drawings.
- Photographs from the 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s.
- Paintings from East and South Asia.
- Art and artifacts from Africa, Pre-Columbian cultures, and Native American groups.
Today, the museum's permanent collection has nearly 14,000 objects. It continues to add more art, especially focusing on Native American and non-Western art.
The university also has another important collection nearby. It's called the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection. This collection has one of the most important groups of Australian Aboriginal art outside of Australia!
See also
- List of art museums
- List of museums in Virginia
