Last updated: 4/30/2024
Tampa, Florida
Address
120 W Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL 33602
phone: 813-274-8130
e-mail: hello@tampamuseum.org
web: www.tampamuseum.org

Hours

Sunday - Wednesday, Friday - Saturday
10 AM - 5 PM
Thursday
10 AM - 8 PM
Art on the House on Thursday evenings from 4 – 8 pm. Pay-as-you-will admission.

Admissions

Museum Type(s)

Art

Staff

Drogheda Cook
phone: 813-274-8130
Description

The Tampa Museum of Art opened its spectacular 66,000-square-foot Cornelia Corbett Center in February 2010 to critical and public acclaim. Since opening in its new home, the museum has emerged as a center of the artistic life in the region. Its commitment to accessibility is evidenced by its operating hours (open every day and into the evenings) and its embrace of public art on its 14,000 sq ft facade. The museum specializes in modern and contemporary art while holding a prized collection of antiquities.

Mission

The Tampa Museum of Art collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits iconic and important works of art to educate, engage, and inspire the residents of our region and others around the world.

History

In 2020, the Tampa Museum of Art celebrated its 100th Anniversary, finding its historical roots in the community as the Tampa Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in 1920. In 1923, the Tampa Art Institute emerged after a consolidation of the exhibition gallery efforts of the Tampa MFA and the studio art programs of the Student Arts Club. The Tampa Art Institute, which presented both exhibitions and studio art education programs, would remain active until 1967. In that year, the Tampa Art Institute reorganized itself as the Tampa Bay Art Center on the campus of the University of Tampa and would remain the region’s cultural resource for ten years alongside the Tampa Junior Museum, founded in 1958.

In 1977, the underpinnings of the Tampa Museum of Art were established as the result of cooperation among art organizations, private citizens and city government. The City of Tampa reached out to the Tampa Bay Art Center and the Tampa Junior Museum and requested they merge under a municipal operation as the Tampa Museum. In 1979 the museum opened to the public as the Tampa Museum Federation in a building funded by the City of Tampa. The museum was a joint venture of the City of Tampa, responsible for physical plant, operations and administration, security, and maintenance. The 501c3 Tampa Museum of Art owned the collections and was responsible for fundraising and programmatic oversight for exhibitions, programs, and acquisitions. Seven years later, in 1986, the name of the museum changed to the Tampa Museum of Art, the name of the support organization.

Over these early years, the purpose and direction of the museum became more focused. The museum acquired the Joseph Veach Noble Collection of Greek vases and two strong collections and exhibition focuses emerged in Antiquities and Contemporary art. To accommodate the growth of the collection and expanding the programming and staff, two additions to the building were accomplished. After modest additions to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1990 and 1994, the support Board in collaboration with the City decided to expand and relocate its facility. Discussions regarding this new building program began in 2000.

In 2006, the City and TMA’s Board of Trustees selected architect Stanley Saitowitz to build a new 66,000 square foot facility – Phase I of a two-phase program – on a new site in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. In December 2007, the Museum relocated to interim quarters in Tampa and construction began in April 2008. The Tampa Museum of Art in 2009 then reorganized as a private and independent 501c3 and opened to the public on February 6, 2010. Today, the Tampa Museum of Art Board of Trustees governs the facility and all responsibilities regarding the Museum.

Artifact Collections

https://collections.tampamuseum.org/objects/images

Programs

Museum teaching staff offers studio art programs for children, teens and adults year round at the Tampa Museum of Art and offsite throughout Hillsborough County.

Learn more about the Tampa Museum of Art's tours, resources for educators, and art classes at https://tampamuseum.org/learn/

Facilities

Two floors of exhibition and collection space totaling 43,000 square feet.

Outdoor terraces overlooking the scenic riverwalk in downtown Tampa.

Four dedicated art education classrooms, including a ceramics wetroom and kiln, technology classroom and lecture hall.

Governance

Private Non-Profit

Publications

Biweekly email newsletter with upcoming events.

Quarterly print brochure with exhibition details and art class schedules

https://tampamuseum.org/join-our-mailing-list/

Services
Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
ADA
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

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