Orlando Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1924 |
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| Location | 2416 North Mills Avenue Orlando, Florida |
| Type | Art museum |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
| Public transit access |   125 |
| Nearest parking | On site (no charge) |
The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is a special place in Orlando, Florida. It is a non-profit organization that helps the community learn about and enjoy art. A group of art lovers started the museum in 1924.
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What You Can See and Do at the Museum
The Orlando Museum of Art always has new and exciting things to see.
- It shows different art exhibits that change often.
- Some exhibits are created by the museum itself.
- Other exhibits travel from different places to be shown here.
- The museum also has its own collection of art that you can always see.
OMA offers many programs for people of all ages.
- You can join workshops to create your own art.
- There are classes to help you understand art better.
- The museum also hosts talks, movies, and guided tours. These are great for both kids and adults.
In 2014, the museum started a special art show called The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art. This show highlights amazing new artists who live and work in Florida.
The Orlando Museum of Art is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This means it meets high standards for museums. It is also part of a program that lets you visit other museums for free or at a discount.
A Look at the Museum's History
The Orlando Museum of Art has grown a lot over the years. It started as the Orlando Art Association in 1924. Later, its name changed to the Loch Haven Art Center in 1960. Finally, in 1986, it became the Orlando Museum of Art.
The museum began with a small group of artists. They met to show their artwork and talk about it. In the late 1950s, people in the community helped raise money. They wanted to build a new building for the art center. This new building opened in 1960.
The museum started collecting art in 1960. It received important American paintings by famous artists like Georgia O'Keeffe. The museum kept growing and adding more space. By 1969, it had new art galleries, an auditorium, classrooms, a library, and offices.
During the 1970s, the museum received a large collection of art from ancient American cultures. It also got more African art. The museum also started its collection of modern American prints.
In 1985, the State of Florida recognized OMA as a "major cultural institution." This showed how important the museum was.
In 1997, the museum made its building even bigger. It spent a lot of money to expand to its current size. Today, it is 80,000 square feet!
In 2022, there was an exhibition of paintings said to be by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Questions arose about whether these paintings were real. The exhibition was closed early. The artworks were removed from the museum. After this, the museum's director and CEO left. New leaders were chosen to guide the museum forward. This event caused some financial challenges for the museum.
Amazing Art Collections
The Orlando Museum of Art has more than 2,400 art pieces. These include:
- Contemporary Art: Art made in our modern times.
- American Art: Paintings and sculptures from the 18th century up to 1945.
- Art of the Ancient Americas: This collection is one of the best in the southeastern United States. It includes art from ancient cultures in North and South America.
- African Art: Beautiful artworks from various African cultures.
In 2018, the museum announced it might become the home for many paintings by Louis Dewis. He was a Belgian painter. The museum showed a few of his paintings as a preview. A larger exhibition of his work was held in 2019.
The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art
The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art is an exciting annual event at the Orlando Museum of Art. It helps bring attention to talented artists in Florida. Each year, the museum's art experts look for artists across the state. They invite 10 artists to show their work. One artist receives a $20,000 award. This award has been supported by Gail and Michael Winn since 2017.
The artists chosen for the prize can be new to the art world or more experienced. Many have already won awards and shown their art in other places. They are all artists who explore important ideas about art and culture. They do this in new and visually interesting ways. By 2022, this exhibition had helped 80 Florida artists gain more recognition.
The Florida Prize show brings together artists from different backgrounds. It is like a snapshot of Florida's lively art scene.
