Figge Art Museum

The Figge Art Museum strives to be the leading regional art museum of the Upper Mississippi Valley region by: ? engaging educating and delighting a broad and diverse public with outstanding art exhibitions acquisitions and education programs; ? collaborating with local and national organizations to reflect the aesthetic needs and interests of the community and to attract community cultural and financial support; ? focusing on the assets of the Figge building on the strengths of the collections continuing its professional dedication to scholarship; ? promoting it as a community forum and tourist destination; ? creating a welcoming and intellectually stimulating atmosphere conducive to aesthetic enjoyment contemplation learning and inspiration. The Figge Art Museum specializes in the collection exhibition and conservation of art. Our permanent collection consists of Haitian Mexican Colonial regionalist including Grant Wood and 17-20th Century Art. Most recently the Figge Art Museum has partnered with the University of Iowa Museum of Art to preserve and share their collections while they rebuild their campus and programs due to the devastating floods in 2008. The Davenport Municipal Art Gallery opened in 1925 through a gift of 350 European and Mexican Colonial paintings creating the first municipal art gallery in the State of Iowa. Today the collections have grown over ten-fold and include more than 3 500 paintings sculptures and works on paper from the 16th century to the present. In 1963 the museum changed its name to the Davenport Museum of Art and moved to a new facility. In 2003 the museum launched its next phase of growth: relocation to the heart of downtown Davenport in an 114 000 sq. ft. facility overlooking the Mississippi designed by London architect David Chipperfield. In recognition of the $13.25 million lead gift to the new building project from the V. O. and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Foundation the museum was renamed the Figge Art Museum. The Figge Art Museum is the leading regional art museum of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. It provides: ?a broad and diverse public with outstanding art exhibitions acquisitions and education programs; ?collaboration with local and national organizations to reflect the aesthetic needs and interests of the community and to attract community cultural and financial support; ?a focus on the assets of the Figge building on the strengths of the collections continuing its professional dedication to scholarship; ?a community forum and tourist destination; ?a welcoming and intellectually stimulating atmosphere conducive to aesthetic enjoyment contemplation learning and inspiration.

Figge Art Museum mission - The Figge Art Museum actively serves the public by promoting appreciation and creation of visual art through education and by collecting conserving and exhibiting art. As a vital responsive institution the museum brings art and people together expands the knowledge and love of art and enriches the life of the community through the power of art.