Morean Arts Center
Coordinates: 27°46′17″N 82°38′39″W / 27.771278°N 82.644283°W
 | |
  Location in Florida | |
| Established | 1917 |
|---|---|
| Location |
719 Central Avenue St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°46′16″N 82°38′40″W / 27.77120°N 82.64433°W |
| Type | Art museum |
| Director | Roger Ross, interim (2016)[1] |
| Curator | Amanda Cooper |
| Website |
www |
The Morean Arts Center (formerly known as The Arts Center) in St. Petersburg, Florida displays works by local, national and international artists. Past displays have included artists' works by Jasper Johns, Duncan McClellan, Allison Massari, Peter Max, Babs Reingold and Jun Kaneko. Art classes are also offered. The Morean Arts Center is located at 719 Central Avenue.
History
The Morean Arts Center, with roots dating back to 1917 as the Art Club of St. Petersburg, focuses on an innovative, community-oriented approach to art and art education. Classes and outreach programs are designed to bring out the artist in all of us. The Morean offers adult programs, kids’ programs, family programs, early childhood programs, and summer camp programs, attracting beginners and advanced students alike. Primary outreach programs are geared towards youth - many of whom are at risk.
The Bank of America Children’s Learning Center is located at the Morean as well as the Glass Studio & Hot Shop. The Glass Studio & Hotshop provides working space for glass artists, audience seating to watch glassblowing in action, and teaching facilities for studio classes and workshops. Visitors can also try glassblowing themselves and purchase original glass art created by local and regional artists in the Hot Shop retail store.
The Morean Center for Clay moved to a renovated space at the Historic Train Station in 2009.
The Chihuly Collection, presented by the Morean Arts Center, is a permanent collection of artist Dale Chihuly’s artwork in a 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) setting designed by award-winning architect Alberto Alfonso. The building includes a retail store with a wide variety of Chihuly merchandise. In August 2016, the collection is relocating from 400 Beach Drive to 720 Central Avenue, adjacent to the Morean Arts Center.[1]
Glass robbery
On the morning of February 8, 2016, employees at the Chihuly Collection found that a small piece, "Cobalt and Lavender Piccolo Venetian with Gilded Handles", had been stolen. The piece is valued at $25,000. The next morning the vessel was dropped off in the entryway of the Morean Arts Center; it had been wrapped in bubble warp and placed in a box.[2][3]
Footnotes
- 1 2 "Morean Arts Center sets closing date for Chihuly Collection". Tbnweekly.com. July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ↑ Steve Nichols (February 9, 2016). "Stolen sculpture found; dropped off at gallery". Fox13news.com. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ↑ Zachary T. Sampson (February 9, 2016). "Morean Arts employee finds box with glass art stolen in Chihuly Collection heist". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 28, 2016.