The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College (FSC) has announced a $6m expansion and renovation project that will add more than 10,000 square feet of space to the venue in Lakeland.
Construction on the expansion, which will more than triple the main gallery space at the Polk Museum of Art, is expected to begin later this year and complete in spring 2024.
Dr Anne Kerr, FSC president, said the Polk Museum of Art is pursuing “an expanded agenda to offer exhibitions of our treasured permanent collection and welcome an increasing number of visiting exhibitions from the great museums of the world”.
“We are proud to be a Smithsonian affiliate museum – and this expansion will also enable additional exhibits from the Smithsonian to be shared with our community and students,” Kerr added.
Construction due to complete in spring 2024
“This expansion of the museum will result in a dynamic arts venue that will greatly enrich the cultural offerings in our community.”
The two-storey addition will be home to exhibition and educational spaces. The current entrance will also be renovated. The flooring on the first floor will be replaced, and galleries on the second floor will be updated.
“Since the affiliation between the museum and Florida Southern in 2017, the museum has aspired to become a top-tier academic and community museum for learners of all ages,” said Dr Alexander Rich, executive director and chief curator of the Polk Museum of Art.
“Now with this exciting expansion, our whole community will benefit,” he added. “The new spaces will showcase art from across time and cultures, and the museum can continue to grow as an innovative site for learning for its entire art-loving community, including our students.”
Images: Polk Museum of Art
