Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts facts for kids
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| Established | 1930 |
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| Location | Montgomery, Alabama, USA |
| Type | Art Museum |
The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is an exciting museum in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. It has many different art collections for everyone to enjoy. You can see amazing American paintings and sculpture from the 1800s and 1900s. The museum also features art from the Southern United States. Plus, there are Old Master prints and beautiful decorative arts. A special part of the museum is ARTWORKS, a fun, hands-on art gallery and studio just for kids!
The museum building you see today was designed by local architects. It first opened its doors in 1988. A new section was added to the building in 1993.
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History of the Museum
The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts started in 1930. Its main goal was to find, keep, show, and explain high-quality art. This was done to make art richer, more understandable, and more enjoyable for everyone. It is the oldest fine arts museum in all of Alabama. In 1978, it became the first museum in Alabama to be approved by the American Alliance of Museums. The museum moved to its current spot in Blount Cultural Park in 1988.
The museum's main collection includes paintings, sculptures, and drawings. These artworks are by famous artists from across the country and from the local area. A very important part of the American art collection is the Blount Collection. This group of 41 paintings includes works by well-known artists like John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, and Winslow Homer. The museum also has a collection of Old Master prints. These include pieces by Rembrandt, Dürer, and Whistler. The museum often hosts new art shows. These shows feature art from around the world and by modern artists.
The museum has a special art library with over 4,000 books, magazines, and videos. This library is a great place for anyone who needs information or wants to do research about art. A big part of the museum's learning programs is ARTWORKS. This is an interactive gallery where you can learn about the museum's art through hands-on activities. More than 60,000 people visit the ARTWORKS gallery every year!
The museum also offers many other programs for young people. There's a puppet show for preschool kids. Every third-grade student in Montgomery Public Schools gets a special tour. There are after-school programs for kids who might not otherwise get to visit. High school students can even take an AP Art History Course to earn college credit. The museum also offers workshops, tours, and talks for all ages. About half of the museum's 160,000 yearly visitors take part in one of these learning programs.
The museum gets most of its money from the city and county of Montgomery. The rest comes from the MMFA Association, which is a private group that supports the museum. Many people and companies become members of this association. The museum also earns money from its gift shop, special events, and program fees. In March 2007, the museum opened a new Education Wing. This addition doubled the size of the ARTWORKS interactive gallery and studio. This expansion helps the museum welcome even more visitors who love art. The museum is also part of the North American Reciprocal Museums program. This means if you are a member, you might get free entry to other museums too!
In 2018, the museum opened the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden. This garden covers three acres and is part of the park next to the museum. It shows different sculptures that travel from all over the world.
Art Collections and Galleries
The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts has several galleries, each with unique art.
Hudson and Krenshaw Galleries
- Jacques Amans, Portrait of J.A. Rozier
- Adolph Weinman, Rising Day
- Adolph Weinman, Descending Night
Blount Collection
- John Singer Sargent, Mrs. Louis E. Raphael (Henriette Goldschmidt) (around 1906)
- John Singleton Copley, Joseph Henshaw (around 1770–1774)
- John Sloan, Grand Central Station (1924)
Decorative Arts
- Worcester Porcelain Factory, Tankard (1754–1755)
- Worcester Porcelain Factory, Teapot and Cover (around 1758–1760)
Young Gallery
- Dale Kennington, Long Day, Late Night (2002–2004)
Studio Glass (Weil Atrium)
- Robin Grebe, Sybil (2006)
- William Morris, Reliquary Vessel (1998)
John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden
- Adam Bodine, What You Say (2012)
- Craigger Browne and Marcello Giorgi, Nostra Luna (2019)
- Deborah Butterfield, Isbelle (2001)
- Patrick Dougherty, Rough and Tumble (2020)
- Casey Downing, Jr., Circular (2018)
- Christopher Fennell, Skate Leaves (2018)
- Randy Gachet, Hollow Sphere Theory (2018)
- Jamey Grimes, Teraxacum (2019)
- Joe Minter, The Sweat of the Mule and the Sharecropper (date unknown)
- Joe Minter, Tools of the Sharecropper (date unknown)
- Joe Minter, The Next Generation of Sharecroppers (date unknown)
- Joe Minter, The Zulu Chief Surrounded by Four Warriors (date unknown)
- Chris Boyd Taylor, Stadium Sphere no. 1 (2018)
- Craig Wedderspoon, Oval (2018)
- Jessie Duncan Wiggin, Untitled (Nymph) (1933)
More to Explore
- Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which is also in Montgomery's Blount Cultural Park
- Ray Burggraf
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Bellas Artes de Montgomery para niños
