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Causes: Art Museums, Arts & Culture, Music, Visual Arts
Mission: The mission is implemented through: intentional art collecting in the focus areas of american art and world cultures, barrier free public access and free admission to art collections of national importance, vigilant preservation and stewardship of art, appealing exhibitions and programs developed to reach diverse audiences including aspiring and practicing artists; students, educators and scholars; art collectors and patrons; as well as non-artists and people with varied interests, lively and interactive interpretation of collections and loaned works of art, including both on-site and off-site/online educational means and materials/tools/platforms, public events, lectures, concerts, art instruction and other programs designed to connect people to art, opportunities to participate in artistic interest groups through the museum,opportunities for individuals and groups with special needs to participate and enjoy the museum's resources.
Programs: The mission is implemented through the development, interpretation and care of art collections; creation of original and educational exhibitions; and presentation of interpretive lectures, concerts, art instruction and other programs to ensure that visitors gain a better appreciation and understanding of the fine arts. The museum actively collects works of art in the fields of american art, world cultures, and art of the region. Accredited by the american alliance of museums, admission to the museum is free and its collection includes over 6,500 works of art. Over eighty-five years ago, hagerstown native, anna brugh singer and her husband, noted american impressionist painter, william henry singer, established an art museum and gave it to the community with the proviso that admission be free in perpetuity. Their largesse and the generosity of many subsequent collectors built a remarkable art collection in washington county.
the presentation of art collections, and associated interpretive activities requires the maintenance of a specialized and architecturally significant building and grounds. The opportunity for the public to encounter highly significant works of art in a beautiful setting, and with safety and security are important values of the washington county museum of fine arts. The washington county museum of fine arts has an enduring commitment to arts education and to the support of regional artists. The museum regularly offers studio art courses, art historical lectures, concerts, and exhibitions from its permanent collection and traveling exhibitions.
lectures, concerts, family festivals, workshops, docent tours and art classes are part of the ongoing educational activities at the museum. The museum has offered art classes since its founding; earliest instructors included thomas danaher and tony carnelli, both works progress administration (wpa) artists, and miss mary harter, who, from the first day the museum opened, taught the saturday children's program for more than 30 years. While the museum has offered basketry, calligraphy, drama, macrame, silk screening, songwriting, dancing, music, mosaic, art appreciation, weaving and many other subjects, the core curriculum has consistently been painting, drawing, sculpture and childrens art classes.