What’s the Ackland Museum?

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The Ackland Museum of Art is located on the UNC-CH campus and features over 16,000 works of art from different styles and time periods. It offers free admission, family programming, and collaborative programs with the Kidzu Children’s Museum. The museum store sells merchandise related to exhibitions and features an exhibition space for regional artists. The museum was founded on the legacy of William Hayes Ackland, an amateur art collector.

The Ackland Museum of Art, located on the northern edge of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) campus, serves the university’s academic community and provides learning resources for community organizations, individuals community members and students from kindergarten to high school. This art museum was first opened in 1958 and underwent a complete renovation during a three-year period starting in 1987. The permanent collection of this museum features over 16,000 works of art from different styles and time periods , with several special exhibitions organized each year. Approximately half of the available gallery space is devoted to traveling exhibitions and other special presentations.

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Ackland Museum is located near the intersection of South Columbia Street and Franklin Street in the small college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The museum features an ever-changing program for adults, children, and families. A highlight of the museum’s family programming is the themed Family Day offered each month with art-based activities. The Ackland Museum also offers collaborative programs with the Kidzu Children’s Museum. The Ackland Museum’s adult programs include yoga and music events held within the gallery spaces, as well as frequent lunchtime art classes.

Admission to this art museum is free. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday weekly. The Ackland Museum car park, main entrance and toilet facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.
Adjacent to the museum is the Ackland Museum Store, which offers merchandise relating to Ackland’s exhibitions and permanent collection. Among the items for sale are fine jewelry, pottery and other household items, children’s books and toys, stationery, artists’ monographs, written works by North Carolina authors, and other relevant books for adults. The store also features an exhibition space that showcases original artwork from artists from the region. All proceeds from the Ackland Museum Store’s charitable programs at the museum.

The Ackland Museum was founded on the legacy of William Hayes Ackland, an amateur art collector and Tennessee native who wanted to support the fine arts in the southeastern United States. Duke University was originally awarded funds for the museum, but declined the bequest based on some specified provisions by Ackland. After a protracted legal battle involving Ackland’s surviving relatives, the funds were eventually awarded to UNC-CH, which had been Ackland’s second choice. His third choice was Rollins College, Florida.




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