Arts centers in former churches run by museum?
February 27, 2020 12:01 PM Subscribe
I am looking for examples in the United States of arts centers that are housed in former churches and operated as adjuncts to local museums. Arts centers meaning places that may have exhibits, performances, education, etc.
This isn't quite what you're looking for, but in Buffalo we have two Karpeles Manuscript Museums, both in old churches, and they have exhibits, and events, (I don't know about education).
posted by jonathanhughes at 12:39 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by jonathanhughes at 12:39 PM on February 27, 2020
McColl Center for Art + Innovation in Charlotte, NC is in an old church building that sat vacant for a long time after a fire. It's an independent nonprofit organization, not connected with a museum. They host artists residencies, workshops, and exhibits.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 1:04 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by Sweetie Darling at 1:04 PM on February 27, 2020
The Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, CT, is in a beautiful former synagogue. It's a lively arts facility but it is, however, an independent entity (i.e., not attached to another museum) so I'm not sure that fits your parameters 100%.
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:05 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:05 PM on February 27, 2020
Ambient Church I gave you the Robert Rich one since it is so exquisite.
posted by effluvia at 1:07 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by effluvia at 1:07 PM on February 27, 2020
The Guthrie Center at the Old Trinity Church, immortalized by "Alice's Restaurant".
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 1:12 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 1:12 PM on February 27, 2020
The Museum of Russian Art in south Minneapolis is in a repurposed church building.
posted by COBRA! at 1:32 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by COBRA! at 1:32 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Sacred Heart Cultural Center in Augusta, GA, is a former Catholic Church. I'm not 100% sure it's attached to one of the local museums, but I know it does a number of exhibits on premises.
posted by ralan at 2:06 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by ralan at 2:06 PM on February 27, 2020
The Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Jamaica, NY (Queens, NY), which is a former church, is operated by the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, which is not exactly a museum, but does present visual arts exhibitions.
posted by Jahaza at 2:37 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by Jahaza at 2:37 PM on February 27, 2020
Vermont: Bennington Museum's Church Gallery ("The Church Gallery is the original exhibition space in the museum, converted from the first Catholic Church in town, built in 1855.")
New York: The Cloisters, The Met's frankenstructure ("The Cloisters, a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is America's only museum dedicated exclusively to the art of the Middle Ages. Picturesquely overlooking the Hudson River in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan, the Museum derives its name from the portions of five medieval cloisters incorporated into a modern museum structure.")
Mississippi: The Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center ("The legacy of recently emancipated African Americans stands proudly today in tribute to their determination to build their own church. Their frame Methodist Episcopal Church built in 1867 near the Oxford Square was replaced in 1910 with a twin-steepled brick church. Following the building’s restoration in 2013, the Mississippi Landmark now serves the community as a history museum and an events center. ")
California: Mission San Juan Capistrano (a "Historic Chapel, Landmark, and Museum," which I think is operated by a nonprofit historical society) "showcases historic and religious artifacts, 18th-20th century paintings, and an interpretive room dedicated to Native American art."
(Last month, in NY: "Community Board 7 (CB7) ultimately voted to disapprove new plans for the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 361 Central Park West (96th Street), which was purchased by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) in 2017." West Side Rag, Jan. 28, 2020; plans were for a multi-storey structure slotted within the historic church, preserving the façade; original story with pictures of church interior at Untapped New York, 2018/08/02)
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:05 PM on February 27, 2020
New York: The Cloisters, The Met's frankenstructure ("The Cloisters, a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is America's only museum dedicated exclusively to the art of the Middle Ages. Picturesquely overlooking the Hudson River in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan, the Museum derives its name from the portions of five medieval cloisters incorporated into a modern museum structure.")
Mississippi: The Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center ("The legacy of recently emancipated African Americans stands proudly today in tribute to their determination to build their own church. Their frame Methodist Episcopal Church built in 1867 near the Oxford Square was replaced in 1910 with a twin-steepled brick church. Following the building’s restoration in 2013, the Mississippi Landmark now serves the community as a history museum and an events center. ")
California: Mission San Juan Capistrano (a "Historic Chapel, Landmark, and Museum," which I think is operated by a nonprofit historical society) "showcases historic and religious artifacts, 18th-20th century paintings, and an interpretive room dedicated to Native American art."
(Last month, in NY: "Community Board 7 (CB7) ultimately voted to disapprove new plans for the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 361 Central Park West (96th Street), which was purchased by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) in 2017." West Side Rag, Jan. 28, 2020; plans were for a multi-storey structure slotted within the historic church, preserving the façade; original story with pictures of church interior at Untapped New York, 2018/08/02)
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:05 PM on February 27, 2020
The Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia is partially in a former church, but doesn't use the church building for art exhibits and I don't think it's associated with a museum (it's primarily an art school) .
posted by sepviva at 3:05 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by sepviva at 3:05 PM on February 27, 2020
« Older Possible to have slideshow for Windows 10 sign-in... | Radio drama without the personality? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
I can think of a few other exhibition spaces that are in churches, but they are not run by what I would call a museum.
posted by xo at 12:16 PM on February 27, 2020