Norton 2011 Summer Attendance Breaks Museum Records
Gallery reinstallations, lobby redesign to build on visitor growth
Sixth Annual Moon Festival Celebrates Chinese Art and Culture on Sept. 10
Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film & Television closes Sept. 11
WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Sept. 1, 2011) – The Norton Museum of Art is thrilled to announce that the summer of 2011 has been one of the best attended summers in its 70-year history. A record-breaking July set the pace with more than 11,000 visitors. The museum remains on pace for its highest annual attendance in years, despite a two-and-a-half week closure— from Sept. 12-30—to reinstall the American and European galleries.
“Engaging our community is a primary part of the Norton’s mission, and certainly what Mr. Norton envisioned when he built this museum and left this wonderful legacy,” said Museum Director and CEO Hope Alswang. “We are grateful to the community for responding to, and supporting the Norton in such numbers, and we look forward to an equally rich fall.”
One of the reasons for the record summer attendance is a slate of strong exhibitions, including the highly-praised Altered States, A to Z: 26 Great Photographs from the Norton Collection), and especially Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film & Television, which has been extended through Sept. 11, the day before closing for the gallery reinstallations. (The daylong Sixth Annual Moon Festival on Sept. 10, which celebrates Chinese art and culture, also precedes the temporary closing.)
Other factors contributing to the increased summer attendance include:
· The increasingly popular Art After Dark series, (Where Culture and Entertainment Meet!) which drew more than 2,200 visitors during June, July and August.
· Visits by a record-setting number of nearly 4,000 young summer campers for guided tours and art projects.
· The community’s increased awareness and use of the Museum’s Free Saturday admission policy. (The Museum is free to Palm Beach County residents the first Saturday of each month, and free to West Palm Beach residents every Saturday.)
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The Museum will be even more welcoming and appealing to its growing number of visitors when it re-opens Oct. 1, (the first Saturday of the month). The reinstallation of the American and European galleries will provide a fresh perspective to the heart and soul of the Norton’s Permanent Collection, and a redesigned main lobby also will include Wi-Fi for guests.
On Oct. 1, curator-led tours of the reinstalled galleries will be available throughout the day. Special family activities are also planned, including the kickoff of a new DIY art project that will be a regular part of “first Saturday” programming.
For more information visit www.Norton.org or call 561-832-5196.
The Norton Museum of Art is a major cultural attraction in Florida, and internationally known for its distinguished Permanent Collection featuring American Art, Chinese Art, Contemporary Art, European Art and Photography. The Norton is located at 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach, FL., and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed on Mondays and major Holidays). General admission is $12 for adults, $5 for visitors ages 13-21, and free for Members and children under 13. Special group rates are available. West Palm Beach residents receive free admission every Saturday with proof of residency. Palm Beach County residents receive free admission the first Saturday of each month with proof of residency. For additional information, please call 561-832-5196, or visit www.norton.org.