[ View Opportunity ]
| Last updated on October 9, 2008 |
Tucson Museum of Art Mission Statement:
The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block connects art to life, and inspires discovery, creativity, and cultural understanding through meaningful, engaging experiences.
Qualifying/Clarifying Statement: To achieve its mission, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block preserves and interprets its collections of: The Art of Americas, Art of the American West, Modern and Contemporary American Art; cares for and interprets five significant El Presidio historic properties; and produces related exhibitions, education programs, and publications which expand understanding and appreciation of these unique community resources.
Description:
Founded in 1924 and located in the historic El Presidio District, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block maintains a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works of art. In addition, the Museum presents visiting exhibitions of works in all media organized by the Museum or traveling exhibitions organized by other institutions. The historic block features five distinctive houses built between 1850and 1907.
There are lush courtyards, fountains, and sculpture gardens, an elegant Museum Shop and the popular Cafe a la C'Art. Our Art School is renowned for its creative offerings of both adult and children's classes and our Research library is an important research and study center for the visual arts.
History:
With its special collections, historic properties and emphasis on community education, the Tucson Museum of Art has become an important regional art museum. Its history demonstrates the community's long-standing effort to develop a high-quality art museum.
In 1924 the Tucson Women's Club formed the Tucson Fine Arts Association (TFAA) to organize and hold art exhibitions in various locations throughout the city. Exhibitions organized by the TFAA were generally of American art with an emphasis on local and regional art. TFAA was legally incorporated in 1936 and nineteen years late moved into its first permanent home, the Kingan House in Tucson's El Presidio Historic District. The first paid Director of the TFAA was hired in 1951 and three years late the Association was officially renamed the Tucson Arts Center (TAC) to more accurately describe its exhibition and education mission. By this time a docent program had been established and classes for children and adults were offered. In 1963, the TAC League was formed, its main goal to raise funds for the Museum, which it continues to do today.
By the mid 1960's the Art Center, though not officially a collecting institution, had received some notable gifts of art and outgrown the Kingan House. Negotiations began with the City of Tucson for a new location still within El Presidio Historic District. By the early 1970s, plans were confirmed and funds were secured for a new Museum facility. Five historic properties, ranging in date from the 1850s to 1907, were also acquired on long-term lease from the City. As the caretaker of these houses the Museum is responsible not only for their maintenance but for fostering an understanding of their historical, architectural and social significance. Today these historic buildings (La Casa Cordova, the Leonardo Romero House, the Edward Nye Fish House a.k.a the Goodman Pavilion of Western Art, the Hiram S. Stevens / Milton B. Duffield House, and the J. Knox Corbett House) form and important part of the Museum's complex and its activities.
In 1975, 51 years after its founding, the Museum moved into its present location on the site of Tucson's original Spanish Presidio. This year, too, the Museum officially became a collection institution. In recognition of its collecting activity, once again the institution's name was changed to the Tucson Museum of Art. Today the Museum's permanent collection contains over 6,000 objects.
By 1981 restoration and stabilization of all five of the Museum's historic properties was accomplished and by 1983 construction of the Plaza of the Pioneers, a modern courtyard tying the Museum's various buildings together, was completed. Also in 1983 the Museum received its accreditation from the American Association of Museums. In 1988 the Museum assumed responsibility of the former City Courts building, now the Museum's Education Center, which provides space for art classes and other educational activities. In March of 1996, the City of Tucson added a large adjacent parking lot to the Museum's lease, allowing the Museum to move forward with a development program that includes: definition of the Historic Block, the creation of new gallery spaces, completion of the Museum lobby and the addition of new public areas.
In December of 1995, the Museum's historic Edward Nye Fish House was reopened and the John K. Goodman Pavilion of Western Art. A year later the space between the Museum and the Pavilion was transformed into the Moore Courtyard, linking the two buildings and a public space for a variety of outdoor activities. Full renovation of the J. Knox Corbett House, a Mission Revival bungalow, was completed in the fall 1995. After being filled with furnishings and decorative objects from the American Arts and Crafts period, the Corbett House opened fulltime to the public in the fall of 1996 as a period house museum.
In September of 1997, the Museum began a major construction and renovation project, which expanded the facility by over 13,000 square feet. This expansion included the addition of 7,000 square feet of gallery space; new spaces for art storage, preparation, and photography; and a new lobby and Museum Shop and was completed in the spring of 1998. The second phase will include the addition and renovation of 3,000 square feet of additional gallery space, a public entry plaza and two internal courtyards.
The Museum has always been community based. The exhibition programs of both historic and contemporary art have been rich and varied, providing a balance between local and statewide art on the one hand, and national and international art on the other, with particular emphasis on the Southwest.
Contact people:
Office fax number: 520-624-7202
Address:
 |
140 North Main Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701
This location is handicap accessible
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.TucsonMuseumofArt.org
Directions:
|
The Museum is bordered by Alameda, Main, Washington and Meyer. Free parking in the Museum lot is just off Washington in beautiful historic downtown. We are just across Alameda from the Pima County pink-domed courthouse.
Nearest Bus Stop: Alameda/Church, 1 minute walk |
Be the first person to offer feedback on this agency!
Post a employee reflection to share your experiences with other employees!
|
|
Maintained by:
|
