The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art’s multimillion-dollar expansion is nearing the finish line.
In February 2022, news broke that the museum formerly known as The Polk Museum of Art would undergo a $6 million renovation and expansion to create more exhibition space + educational experiences. The project broke ground in November 2022 and was originally slated to be complete by the summer of 2024. Now, it’s totaling $8 million and is expected to wrap up in the fall.
The 14,000-sqft expansion to the 36-year-old building will feature a gallery, classroom, and art laboratory. The main building will get renovations to its facade, new flooring, updated galleries along the second floor, classrooms, and spaces for offices.
In the past, the museum was only able to feature a limited selection of pieces of art at any time. Upon the project’s completion, it will triple its exhibition space, allowing more room for additional exhibits and collections.
On top of the cosmetic updates, the museum will partner with Florida Southern College to offer opportunities for students like internships and volunteer opportunities to assist in professional development before graduation.
Funding for the project has come from both state and private entities. Most recently, the museum received a monumental donation from the Nicholas and Ashley Barnett Foundation at the GiveWell Community Foundation, which led to the museum’s renaming from The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College to The Ashley Gibson Museum of Art at Florida Southern College — or, “The AGB” for short.
In addition to funding the expansion’s pre-existing plans, the gift from the Nicholas and Ashley Barnett Foundation will allow the museum to add new youth, adult, family, and senior programming like art therapy and art wellness — all while remaining free of charge to the public.
