Tampa Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1979 |
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| Location | Tampa, Florida |
| Type | Art museum |
The Tampa Museum of Art is a cool place in downtown Tampa, Florida. It shows off modern and contemporary art. You can also see ancient items from Greece, Rome, and the Etruscan people. The museum started in 1979. In 2010, it opened a brand new building. This new building is right next to Tampa's Riverwalk by the Hillsborough River.
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History of the Museum
When the Tampa Museum of Art first opened, its building was too small. For many years, people talked about making it bigger or moving it. Different ideas came up from the city and the museum's leaders.
For example, in 2001, a plan for a huge $76 million building was made. It was designed by an architect named Rafael Vinoly. But this plan was too expensive and might not have been safe in a hurricane.
Later, from 2003 to 2005, the mayor of Tampa, Pam Iorio, suggested moving the museum. She thought it could go into old buildings downtown. But the museum's leaders did not like these choices. Also, changing the old buildings into a museum was too costly.
In 2006, the museum and the city agreed on a new plan. They decided to build a new museum for $33 million. It would be about 66,000 square feet. This new building was placed very close to the old one. It became part of the city's Riverwalk project. A new children's museum, now called the Glazer Children's Museum, was built next door at the same time.
The old museum building had to be taken down. While the new one was being built, the Tampa Museum of Art moved. It stayed for a while in the historic Centro Espanol building in West Tampa. Work on the new museum started on April 18, 2008. The grand opening of the new Tampa Museum of Art happened on February 6, 2010.
The Museum Building
The museum building was designed by architect Stanley Saitowitz. It looks like a "glowing jewel box" sitting on a glass base. It uses aluminum, glass, and special lights that change color on the outside. This makes the building itself a piece of art.
Inside, the museum is mostly white with soft lighting. The architect wanted it to be a simple background for the art. He called it "an empty canvas" that art would fill. The museum also has a gift shop and a cafe.
In 2010, the Tampa Museum of Art won an American Architecture Award. This award came from The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.
What You Can See: Exhibits
The Tampa Museum of Art has two floors. On the first floor, you will find the help desk, a cafe, and a gift shop. The second floor is where you can see the art exhibits.
The museum has a permanent collection of ancient items. These include pottery and tools from civilizations before and during Ancient Greece. These items are supported by the University of South Florida.
Other exhibits show different kinds of art. For example, "An Irresistible Urge to Create" features art from Florida artists. These works use many different materials. You can also see art by Paul Jenkins, an Abstract Expressionist painter.
The museum has also been updated recently. They added a bigger space for education. This area is separate from the main art galleries. It has a larger gallery to show art made by children who take classes there. This space is designed to stay open even after the main museum closes. It offers classes in many art forms, including digital art and photography.
Who Works With the Museum?
The Tampa Museum of Art works closely with the University of South Florida. They share materials for exhibits. For example, they display ancient pottery like vases and drinking cups from old Greek times.
The museum also offers a special course for university students. In this course, students learn about artists whose works are in the "Outsider Art Gallery." This gallery shows art from Florida artists.
You can also see the ancient art digitally. The USF Special Collections at the University of South Florida Tampa Library has images and descriptions online. The Tampa Museum of Art website also shows these works.
The museum partners with many other groups. These include the Firehouse Cultural Center and the Parks and Recreation City of Tampa. They also work with schools in Hillsborough and Pinellas County. The museum offers guided tours for school groups.
In April 2022, the museum received a large gift of $25 million from Dick Corbett. This money will help the museum with its plans for renovation and expansion.
