Page 53 - Guest Advantage Magazine - September 2015

JACKSONVILLE MUSEUMSBy Kara Pound
Boasting the largest city by population in the State of Florida, it’s no surprise that Jacksonville is home to some of the most innovative and culturally diverse museums in the world.
Thomas P. Campbell, director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, has said, “Museums provide places of relaxation and inspiration. And most importantly, they are a place of authenticity. We
live in a world of reproductions – the objects in museums are real. It’s a way to get away from the overload of digital technology.”
So follow us on a journey through some of the best museums that “The River City” has to offer. From kid- friendly, science-geared exhibitions to modern masterpieces, Jacksonville’s burgeoning museum scene is like no other.
The Cummer Museum of Art &
Gardens is a public art museum located in the historic Riverside neighborhood. The Cummer (as it’s known by locals) houses a collection especially strong
in European and American paintings supplemented by a substantial holding of Meissen porcelain.
“We are the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida,” says Lori Ann Whittington, the museum’s Director of Advancement. “Our core collection of 60 pieces of art bequeathed from Ninah M.H. Cummer’s estate in 1958 has grown to include nearly 5,000 works of art, spanning from 2100 B.C. through the 21st century.”
Located on two-and-a-half acres of historic gardens, the Cummer serves as a centerpiece of beauty for all to enjoy.
“The Gardens’ connection to several famed landscape architects gives these stunning spaces national significance,”
says Whittington. “Locally, they have become a model for environmentally- friendly practices, safeguarding the health of the St. Johns River.”
The museum has also become well- known for Art Connections, its award- winning interactive space for children as well as special events such as classes, tours, concerts and programs in the galleries and gardens.
“The Cummer Museum strives to be
a core asset to the community through its strategic partnerships,” Whittington explains. “Special emphasis has been put on multi-arts initiatives that combine music, visual arts, theatre and the spoken word.”
Another of Jacksonville’s premier art museums is the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA), a non-profit visual arts educational institution and cultural
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