Noyes Museum facts for kids
Front of the Noyes Museum (Oceanville site, since closed and sold)
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| Established | 1973 (Noyes Foundation) 1983 (museum opening to public) |
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| Location | Oceanville, New Jersey (1983–2016) Atlantic City, New Jersey Hammonton, New Jersey Galloway, New Jersey |
The Noyes Museum of Art is a special art museum located in southern New Jersey. It is known for being the only fine arts museum in that area. The museum first opened its doors in 1983 in Galloway Township, New Jersey.
The original building in Oceanville closed in 2016. This was because there wasn't enough money for important repairs. The old building was later sold in 2021. But don't worry, the museum's amazing art collection is still on display! You can now see it at four different places. These include the Noyes Art Garage and the Noyes Gallery at The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. You can also find art at Kramer Hall in Hammonton and the Seaview golf club in Galloway.
Since 2017, the museum has been a part of Stockton University. This partnership started in 2010 and grew even stronger in 2016.
Contents
The Museum's Story
The Noyes Museum of Art was created thanks to the kindness of Fred and Ethel Noyes. Fred Noyes was a big part of creating the "Historic Towne of Smithville". This was a popular place for tourists. He also owned the Smithville Inn restaurant.
How the Museum Started
Fred Noyes loved collecting art. He used his own art collection to start the museum's first pieces. The Noyes family set up their foundation in 1973. They began planning the museum in 1974. They used money from selling Historic Smithville to fund it.
The museum was built on land that used to be a summer camp. Fred Noyes bought this land in 1978. The new museum was designed by Paul Cope. It was built on a slope leading down to a lake. This made the building unique with rooms at different heights. Fred Noyes spent about $4 million to build and support the museum. It opened in 1983 in Oceanville, Galloway. It was very close to Smithville and right next to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
A Community Hub
The Noyes Museum became an important cultural spot in Atlantic County. Besides showing art, it also held concerts and educational classes. It was known for its special location. The museum was tucked away in a quiet forest, surrounded by nature. Ethel Noyes passed away in 1979 while the museum was being built. Fred Noyes died in 1987. However, the charitable foundation they created continued its work.
Why the Original Building Closed
Over time, the museum started having problems with its heating and air conditioning systems. These systems became old and didn't work well. Because the building was built on a slope, it was hard to keep the temperature the same everywhere. Also, the electrical systems needed updates. The building also needed changes to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This law was passed after the museum was built.
In 2010, the museum made an agreement with Stockton University. Stockton would get to use some of the Noyes art collection. In return, the university would invest money to fix up the building. However, Stockton University decided not to go through with this plan in 2015. Both the university and the Noyes Foundation agreed that spending more money on the old building wasn't a good idea. The museum's director, Michael Cagno, said it was "a beautiful location but it was in the middle of nowhere." He meant it was hard to make it work as a business. So, in January 2016, the original Noyes Museum building closed its doors.
In August 2017, Stockton University took over the Noyes Foundation's art and other items. By December 2017, Stockton University had full control of all the foundation's remaining assets. This included owning the old Oceanville property. The donated assets were worth about 2.2 million dollars.
Where to See the Art Now
The main Galloway location was put up for sale after it closed. In 2021, the original Oceanville property was sold to a local church. But the Noyes Museum is still very much alive! Its collection is now shown at several different places.
Current Display Locations
- The Seaview golf club in Galloway. This is a different spot in Galloway Township than the original museum.
- The Arts Garage in Atlantic City.
- The Noyes Gallery at The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City.
- Stockton's Kramer Hall in Hammonton.
The Noyes Arts Garage is the biggest of these new locations. It opened in 2013 as a new project from the Noyes Foundation. It is in downtown Atlantic City, close to the Tanger Outlets The Walk outdoor mall. The building was fixed up by the Atlantic City's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). They let Noyes use the building for free. The Arts Garage also has spaces for artists to set up shops and sell their own creations.
Kramer Hall in Hammonton is the second largest location. It is used to store many of the museum's art pieces.
The Noyes Collection
The Noyes collection has about 3,500 pieces of art and sculptures. It also includes more than 300 duck decoys. Fred Noyes started collecting these decoys when he was young. These decoys are now kept at Hammonton's Town Hall.
See also
- The Orange Loop
Gallery
- Noyes Museum in Galloway Township, NJ
