Explore Nearby Museums
 Updated: 11/29/2016 
Mobile Museum of Art
Mobile, Alabama
Description

The Mobile Museum of Art (MMofA) includes a permanent collection of close to 10,000 works of fine and decorative arts from America, Asia, and Europe. This collection spans periods from classical antiquity to the present day. MMofA is supported by a unique public/private partnership of city and community support. Its facility is owned by the city of Mobile, and the art collection is privately owned.

Founded in 1964, MMofA has grown from a modest initiative of the Mobile Art Association in the late 1950s, to the only accredited art museum in southern Alabama.

Mission
The mission of the Mobile Museum of Art

is to provide a place where people enrich their lives through interaction with the visual arts in thought-provoking and creative ways that nourish and delight the mind and spirit. For the fundamental purpose of education, the Museum collects, conserves, exhibits, interprets and researches art.

History

The formation of the Mobile Museum of Art began in 1957 with the activities of the Mobile Art Association. By the 1960s, the concept had taken root and the Mobile Art Gallery was established in 1963 and incorporated in 1964. In October 1964, the museum opened to the public in a 14,000 square-foot building in Langan Park. In 1976, a new wing of 13,500 square feet was added, with funding from the city, county and private contributors. From 1992 to 2001, the museum operated a 2,800 square-foot satellite gallery in the downtown area.

The move into the new building began in summer 2002 and culminated with the grand reopening on September 5. The opening exhibition, Picturing French Style: Three Hundred Years of Art and Fashion, was organized by the museum and coincided with the city of Mobile’s celebration of the 300th anniversary of its founding by the French.

Since reopening, the museum has presented a dynamic exhibition schedule and has expanded its geographical reach, as it refined its educational programming. Today, it continues to evolve in its service to the community, achieved through its programs, education and exhibitions.

Artifact Collections

The Mobile Museum of Art (MMofA) includes a permanent collection of close to 10,000 works of fine and decorative arts from America, Asia, and Europe. This collection spans periods from classical antiquity to the present day. MMofA is also host to several special exhibitions throughout the yea

For the Mobile Museum of Art’s 50th Anniversary in 2014, the exhibition staff upgraded our permanent collection galleries which included the expansion of the Asian collection in the Mary and Charles Rodning Gallery with attention paid to cultural context in the placement of the art. The character and focus upon each work was enhanced through lighting and a bold color scheme. Walls in the Katharine C. Cochrane Gallery were rearranged and a chronological arrangement of 150 Years of American Art from the collection was installed. The architectural upgrade continued in 2015 on the second floor with changed floor surfaces and a spatial design by architect Don Bowden. The West Gallery and the Rodning Hallway are now used for traveling exhibitions and the exhibition American Art 1945 – Present, a selection of contemporary work from the museum’s collection is presented in the East Gallery.

Programs
Learn about art at The Museum School

The Museum School is busy year-round thinking of new, creative opportunities to learn about art, because art is vital to a well-rounded education. Through Museum staples like themed school tours, home school and after school art classes, Spring Break Art Camp, and Art Blast Summer Art Camp, as well as experimental professional development workshops and adult classes, The Museum School is dedicated to serving the Mobile community and beyond.

Facilities
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Event spaces include our Grand Lakefront Lobby, Larkins Auditorium, and Conference Room.

Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Performance Areas
Library

Access: General Public

Appointment required: True

Services
Theme Tours

The Museum School at the Mobile Museum of Art is pleased to offer theme tours and art activities to students K-4 through college. In recognizing the connection between academic success and an education in the arts, the education staff has designed a program that incorporates core curriculum-based principles with art-related activities to encourage museum use and appreciation. Please review the programs and activities on our website in our School Tour Planner and take advantage of the unique resources available to you and your students.

The Museum Store & Visitor Center

Visit The Museum Store & Visitor Center featuring work by regional contemporary artists and artisans! The Museum Store is open during our regular Museum hours, and offers an assortment of coffee and treats as well as gifts, toys, accessories, and household items for all ages. Many of these items are hand crafted by artists. Regional artists include Elizabeth Haskins, Dr. Robert Bantens, Lia Frederick, Dug Frederick, and many more.

The Museum Store also has the Back Room Gallery, where regional artists’ works are exhibited and sold on consignment. Currently on view in the Back Room Gallery are works by Duane Knight.

Let the party begin!

MMofA is available for special event rentals of all kinds. Be it a holiday party, wedding reception, outdoor barbecue or small committee workshop, the Mobile Museum of Art offers the ideal setting for your personal and professional needs. Make your party more festive and elegant this year by hosting it at the Mobile Museum of Art. Stunning architecture filled with centuries of fine art, the Museum can accommodate from four to 400 guests.

Join Our Team! Become a Volunteer!

Mobile Museum of Art provides dozens of programs for the public and participates in numerous community activities that would not be possible without volunteers. Through hands-on service, volunteers play many roles that make it possible for the Museum to further its mission while developing their personal interest in the arts. Museum programs such as Art Blast!, Art All Year Long, school and walk-in tours, as well as outreach events are some of the most important aspects of the museum that are significantly enhanced by the generous dedication of time and service from our valued volunteers.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Event Rental
Restaurant
Group Tours
Address
4850 Museum Drive
Langan Park
Mobile, AL 36608
phone: 251-208-5200
home page: Mobilemuseumofart.com
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Hours of Operation

Closed on Mondays and all City Holidays

Sunday, Tuesday - Wednesday, Friday - Saturday10 AM - 5 PM
Thursday10 AM - 9 PM
Mondayclosed

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., free regular admission (Additional admission applies for some special exhibitions>>)

Admission

Adults: $12
Seniors: $10
Active Military: $8
Members: free
Students (): $8
Children under 6: Free

Museum Type(s)
Art
Culture
History
Library
Staff
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

April 5 - 8, 2025

Ithaca, New York

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

Saturday, April 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Ithaca Downtown Conference Center

Ithaca, New York

Hosted by: Museum Association of New York

Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Ou

Who are the members of our communities? How can we evaluate our internal structures to help us better understand our organization, define our audiences, and serve our communities? How do we bring all communities together to support our field? How can we support and develop our internal community of staff, volunteers, and board members? How can we advocate for funding that meets operational capacity needs and includes equitable staff support? What changes do we need to make to prioritize the health and well-being of our museum workforce that will support the longevity and sustainability of our institutions and strengthen our ability to build meaningful community relationships

MANY presents conference sessions, workshops, panel discussions, facilitated discussions, and peer-to-peer learning experiences focusing on our 2025 conference theme, Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out. We will be gathering in Ithaca, in the Southern Tier Region of our state, located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ (the Cayuga Nation)

MANY’s annual conference helps museum professionals build a network to share perspectives, tools, and skills that develop excellence across the field. Our goal is to nurture a community of practice, advance institutional change, and create an inclusive and expansive New York team of collaborators who learn together.

view all conferences
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