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Owensboro Museum of Fine Art

Established in 1977 as the second fine art museum in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art has made many significant contributions in the areas of presentation and preservation of Kentucky's cultural heritage through permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, and educational programs.

The mission of the museum is to present the visual arts in all forms as a way to strengthen and inspire aesthetic and humanistic values. Through programming and involvement in the community, the museum increases public knowledge; expands awareness and creativity; and develops understanding, concern, and appreciation for the arts. As the provider of these services, the museum serves its purpose to enhance the cultural environment of the region.

The museum has acquired an important permanent collection of American, European, and Asian fine and decorative arts, dating from the 15th century to the present; organized historical exhibitions documenting the cultural traditions of Kentucky and the Southeastern and Southwestern states; and featured exhibitions of American and European masterworks on loan from major museums.

In addition to its role of organizing, preserving, and interpreting collections of art, OMFA also educates by making art and artists more accessible to the public. A variety of interpretive events encompassing the visual and performing arts are presented in conjunction with the exhibitions. These events are designed for both children and adults and are conducted by exhibiting artists, musicians, dancers, actors, museum professionals, and educators.

A project called ARTWORKS, an educational partnership with regional school systems, uses the museum’s resources as teaching tools for addressing current curriculum goals. The education program reaches more than 30,000 children throughout Kentucky and surrounding states each year.

The involvement and support of the Owensboro/Daviess County community is evidenced by its generosity, which has helped to establish the permanent collection and endorsed an expansion that tripled the museum’s size, adding a new exhibitions wing, an atrium sculpture court, and a restored Civil War-era mansion that serves as a decorative arts wing.

OMFA serves a regional audience of more than 71,000 annually and plays a vital role in providing unique learning opportunities for regional schools. It serves as an integral component in Owensboro’s position as a regional leader in the arts, education, tourism, and economic development.

For more information about the museum, its collection, and its education programs, contact:

Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
901 Frederica St.
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 685-3181 (phone/fax)
omfa@mindspring.com
http://www.omfa.us

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