With a collection of art that spans the globe and more than 5,000 years, plus a wide array of special exhibitions, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is recognized as one of the top comprehensive art museums in the United States.

The museum's permanent collection encompasses more than 23,000 works of art, including the largest public collection of Faberg's outside Russia and one of the nation's finest collections of American art, Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

VMFA has one of the largest permanent collections of ancient art in the southeast United States. In terms of chronological range, the collection reflects some six thousand years of human development, ranging from the Neolithic cultures of the Near East to the fall of Byzantium.

The museum is home to acclaimed collections of English Silver and Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, British Sporting and Modern & Contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan and African art.

In May 2010, VMFA opened its doors to the public after a transformative expansion, the largest in its 75-year history. Programs include educational activities and studio classes for all ages, plus fun after-hours events. VMFA's Statewide Partnership program includes traveling exhibitions, artist and teacher workshops, and lectures across the Commonwealth.