Background of the Museum

The Bronx Museum of the Arts has been envisioned as a center of learning and has been aware of its role in the changing society. It has helped scholars and researchers from different walks of life with their useful resources. The various kinds of resources that are provided by the museum include their rich archives, the public programs that they organize from time to time and the innovative discussion and events that are planned. The Bronx Museum of the Arts has always made important contributions to the art and culture of New York City.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts initially operated because of the efforts of a group of local residents. This was in the year 1971 when the people were trying to bring art to the Bronx. The museum has till now remained the only institution encouraging contemporary art in the area. For the first ten years of its operations the museum was located on Grand Concourse and 161^st Street at the Bronx County Courthouse. The museum shifted five blocks north on the Concourse to 165^th Street and was housed in a former synagogue.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts has a large collection of artist’s works from all around the world. This includes works from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It has always been committed to present some of the most brilliant examples of exceptional works of art that may not have been known otherwise. This effort to showcase art from different parts of the world had been taken up from 1986. From the year 2000 the museum’s efforts has also included works of artists who have been related to the Bronx and it has had major influence in their lives and art. The Bronx Museum of the Arts has a large collection of over 800 works of arts that are done in different kinds of media. Through the collection guests are able to witness a wide array of unique and contemporary techniques that are applied by artists the world over.

http://www.bronxmuseum.org/info/about.html

Address and Location

The museum is located at 1040 Grand Course At 165^th Street Bronx, NY 10456. You can call at the following number (718) 681-6000. If visitors want to take the subway to the museum they can take 4, B and D to 161^st Street. You can also avail the D or B to the 167 Street or Grand Concourse Station. You have to walk to the south of the rand Course station for two blocks.

The timings of the Bronx Museum of the Arts are:

From Mondays to Sundays: 12: 00pm- 6: 00pm.

Excepting Fridays when it is opened from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It will also remain closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving.

Admission Fees:

For Adults: $ 5

For Seniors Citizens and Students $ 3

Free admission on Fridays and free to members and children under 12 who should be accompanied by an adult.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts has in recent years started of an initiative to expand its premises. In the month of February 2004 the museum started its first ambitious capital project that includes the building of a 16,000 square feet building towards the north of the existing premises. The facility was opened to the public in October 2006 and includes a number of improvements in design and structural additions like that of a large art gallery, a space exclusively for programs and events. The facility also includes an outdoor terrace and a complete floor that is exclusively for classrooms and education programs.

School programs:

The Bronx Museum of the Arts offers innovative and well-defined school programs that serve different kinds of communities and groups. These unique programs involves hands-on experience

as well as viewer participation that makes these programs a truly learning experience. One of these programs includes the Interpreting Art Program or the IAP. The IAP program is designed to foster analytical thinking in the viewer as well as his participation in the work of art that he is viewing. The IAP education program consists of the IAP Tour and the IAP Studio.

The IAP Tour organized by the Bronx Museum of the Arts is a merger of illuminated discussions on artworks as well as activities that have media based exercises, writing as well as innovative games. This tour is specially made in order to make sure that the participants get a clear understanding of the works of arts that are on display. These tours are usually organized for 60 minutes offered by the museum educators. From Wednesday to Fridays these tours are scheduled from at 12pm and again at 2 pm. The group tours usually have flat rates of $ 100 with each group having not more than 25 participants.

In the IAP Studio, students explore varieties of techniques used in mixed media, photography, painting as well as drawing. The students are able to gather key concepts about artistic notion and ideas. There are several kinds of work related projects. Each of these projects or programs are 2 hours in duration. They are held from Wednesdays to Friday from at 12pm and 2 pm. Flat rates for maximum 25 participants are $ 150.

In order to book your IAP tour you can send in your clarification mail to education@bronxmuseum.org which should include the following information. The name of the School or Organization that you represent, your contact name, phone number, the date of the tour and the number of participants who will be present. For further information you may also call (718) 681 6000 the extension number being 132.

http://www.bronxmuseum.org/education/schoolprograms.html

Education programs

The education department of the Bronx Museum of the Arts supports and encourages a number of schools, students, families, teens as well as adult participants. This help encourages new and upcoming artists and also works as a backbone for unique art forms. There are different kinds of programs and ongoing efforts that are available to the participants where they are taught new methods of expressions that directly influence their work and connect them to the key areas of expression and ideas. Everyday culture can therefore serve as a wonderful learning experience for upcoming artists and the education programs that are offered at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Try to deliver such informative programs that directly help the students with their learning process.

Public Programs

There are a number of public programs that are scheduled for the coming weeks. These include:

Art: 21-Art in the 21^st Century-Episode 3 that would be held in the Ecology North Wing housed in the Second floor. The Admission rate for this program is $ 5. This particular episode will include works of artists like Mark Dion, Robert Adams, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle and Ursula von Rydingsvard. This exhibition is in collaboration with Art21 and Americans for the Arts and will be held on Saturday, October 6^th from 3 pm. Other exhibitions also include the following:

• ‘Family Affair’ on Saturday, October 6^th from 1 to 3 pm.
• ‘Open House New York’ program scheduled for Saturday October 6^th 12 pm to 6 pm and Sunday October 7^th from 12 pm to 6 pm.
• ‘Poetry of the Islands’ scheduled for Saturday October 27^th from 3 pm, Admission Fees

$ 5.

http://www.bronxmuseum.org/programs/public.html

The Artists in the Market Place or (AIM) Program

The Bronx Museum of the Arts also encourages specialty programs like that of the ongoing program called The Artist in the Marketplace or the AIM Program. This is an endeavor that had been taken up by the museum in order to provide training and support to artists as well as a healthy platform to their work. The program was aimed at those artists who would need professional help to showcase their work on a larger scale. There are also numerous programs and discussions held during these events. These programs are usually held in the fall and spring time and are limited to 18 artists every semester. The meet is held for 12 weeks on Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Application requests for the upcoming semesters must be received by June 30^th, 2008.

http://www.bronxmuseum.org/aim.html

Museum Shop

The Museum Shop at the Bronx Museum of the Arts has several items up on sale. Guests in the museum can browse through the archives of the museum shop for gift items that includes a wide range of Museum publications, Exhibition catalogues, numerous CDs and DVDs and other miscellaneous items. You can also go through the inventory of products through catalogues of the museum shop online. Your purchases online will be processed through paypal options, credit cards or eChecks.

http://www.bronxmuseum.org/shop/buyonline.html

Membership

Membership charges at the Bronx Museum of the Arts include invitations to special programs and exclusive performances. There is free admission to all the members of the museum. For further details and membership rates you can also contact:

718.681.6000 extension 136 or e-mail your queries to ssolomon@bronxmuseum.org .

http://www.bronxmuseum.org/support/membership.html