Museums
Greater Lafayette Museum of Art
Est. 1909
The Greater Lafayette Museum of Art is located in Lafayette, Indiana. Founded by the Lafayette Art Association, in 1909, it is the only Smithsonian-affiliated art museum in the state. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums. On an average, it has about 3,000 visitors each year. The museum features three galleries, out of which two contain permanent exhibitions. The third gallery showcases the talents of a chosen artist each month. The permanent displays focus on art of the 19th and 20th century. Most of these artworks are the creations of Indiana’s own artists. Apart from the paintings, the museum holds a special collection of Rookwood pottery and Latin-American prints. Since the museum faces a dearth of display space, many of the art pieces are kept in storage. Selected items from this stored collection are displayed periodically in an exhibit called Hidden Gems. One of the featured new additions to the museum is the Children’s Activity Area. Here, children can put their imaginations in full swing. Each of the activities prescribed to the children are based on the current exhibition. Apart from being a source of enjoyment, these activities also serve as a medium of education. A bove all, the children get an opportunity to see their own creations displayed on a wide golden frame on the museum wall. The activity center for the children was started in 1997 by an initiative taken by the Warren N. Eggleston Charitable Trust. It has become of one of the most successful additions to the museum. The museum, being a not-for-profit institution, depends on donations and aids from like-minded individuals and organizations. The fund raising activities and acquisitions are done by the Art League, an association of artists and donors. The association is also actively involved in the promotion of art and artists from the local community. Visitors to the museum can purchase a variety of artistic and educational merchandise available at the museum store. The items include postcards, magnets, puzzles, educational art products, and posters featuring current and permanent exhibitions. The store also features books on wide range of topics.
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