Springfield Art Museum

History

Incorporated in 1928, the Museum was first operated entirely by volunteers and still relies heavily on community support in a variety of ways. The Museum has had several homes along the way. The present Museum, on the edge of Phelps Grove Park, opened in 1958.

A 392-seat auditorium was completed in 1974 and extensive renovation of the Museum was completed in 1984.

In 1994, the Jeannette L. Musgrave Wing with four new exhibition galleries and storage for the permanent collection of some 8,895 art objects including special collections of 19th, 20th, and 21st century American paintings, watercolor, sculpture and prints was completed.

Watercolor U.S.A., Regional and Changing Exhibitions

In addition to its collection, the Springfield Art Museum is known for hosting the Watercolor U.S.A. competition. Held annually since 1962, the competition draws more than 1,000 entries every year. Thousands of visitors flock to the museum each year to view the entries. Every other year the Museum hosts the MOAK 4-State Regional Exhibition, and throughout the year has many other changing exhibitions. For information about the upcoming exhibition schedule, go to the Art Museum page on the City of Springfield website.

Outdoor Pubic Art

The museum is located adjacent to the beautiful 31- acre Phelps Grove Park that has a walking fitness trail, wading pool, rose garden, xeriscape garden, tennis courts, picnic tables, and children’s play areas. Only one sculpture, Triangulum by Richard Hunt, is located on the land bordering the Park – others are located to the south and east of the Art Museum building.

2008 Expansion of the Art Museum

A $3.3 million 10,000-square foot wing with new galleries, entry hall, gift shop and a new library was added to the Art Museum in 2008, funded through private donations raised by director Jerry Berger. The four largest donors – those gifting more than $300,000 – have galleries in their names: Eldridge, Spratton, Armstrong and Hartman. Some benefactors’ individual gifts reached as high as $700,000. New galleries include:

  • The Eldridge gallery – Artist and teacher William Maurice Eldridge bequeathed the museum with proceeds from property sales and five of his original paintings
  • The Hartman gallery – Collector and patron Joan Cousins Hartman had a distinctive flare for Oriental pieces and donated historic artworks.
  • The Armstrong gallery – Springfieldian Bill H. Armstrong’s work has appeared in more than 50 national and regional exhibits and four international exhibits. Armstrong has received eight Watercolor USA awards, the 1990 Missouri Arts Council’s lifetime achievement award, and the 2004 Springfield Regional Arts Council’s Ozzie Award for industry advancement.
  • The Spratlen gallery – Collector and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderveer Spratlen has donated more than 420 pieces to the Springfield Art Museum, including many Western Americana works came from her Denver home.

New Director Search

Jerry Berger, Springfield’s Art Museum director for more than two decades at the museum, has announced his retirement on October 14, 2011. The City of Springfield and the Board of Director of the Springfield Art Museum are in the process of a new director search.

Related link: What do you see as the Museum’s Vision?

The Springfield Art Museum, 1111 East Brookside Drive, Springfield, MO 65807 417.837.5700 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours Thursday until 8 PM, and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. Admission is free. For information about the upcoming exhibition schedule, go to the Art Museum page on the City of Springfield website.

Information for this article from the City of Springfield website, the Springfield News-Leader, and the Springfield Business Journal