Morris Museum of Art

Morris Museum of Art
Name	Morris Museum of Art
Established	1985
Location	Augusta, Georgia, United States
Type	Art museum
Founder	William S. Morris III
Website	www.themorris.org

Morris Museum of Art. Founded in 1985 by newspaper publisher William S. Morris III, the museum is dedicated to the art and artists of the American South. It opened to the public in 1992 and holds the oldest and largest collection in the world focused exclusively on Southern art. Located in the heart of Augusta on the Savannah River, the institution serves as a major cultural resource for the Southeastern United States.

History

The museum's origins are tied to the private collection of its founder, William S. Morris III, chairman of Morris Communications. His passion for the region's artistic heritage led to the formal establishment of the museum in 1985. After several years of planning and development, it opened its doors in a permanent facility in 1992. The creation of the museum was a significant event in the cultural history of Augusta, filling a void for a dedicated institution celebrating Southern visual culture. Its founding coincided with a broader scholarly and public resurgence of interest in American art from the Southern United States.

Collections

The permanent collection comprises over 5,000 paintings, works on paper, and sculptures from the late-18th century to the present. It provides a comprehensive survey of Southern art, including works by notable figures such as George Cooke, William H. Johnson, Jasper Johns, and Bo Bartlett. The holdings are particularly strong in landscape painting of the Hudson River School as practiced in the South, Southern Impressionism, and folk art. Significant genres include portraiture, still life, and scenes depicting the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. The museum also maintains an extensive collection of works by Augusta-born artist Stephen Pace.

Exhibitions

The museum organizes a dynamic schedule of temporary exhibitions that explore diverse themes within Southern art. These have included retrospectives of artists like Alfred Hutty and surveys such as *The Civil War in Art*. It frequently collaborates with other institutions, including the Georgia Museum of Art and the Greenville County Museum of Art, to present major traveling shows. Exhibitions often examine specific movements, such as the Ashcan School's influence in the South, or thematic topics like the depiction of the Mississippi River in American culture. The museum also hosts an annual competition for contemporary Southern artists.

Building and location

The museum is housed in a renovated building on the Augusta Riverwalk, a scenic park along the Savannah River in downtown Augusta. The location places it within the city's central business and cultural district, near landmarks like the Augusta Common and the James Brown Arena. The facility includes ten galleries, an auditorium, a museum shop, and the Morris Museum Center for the Study of Southern Art. Its riverfront setting is a key part of its identity, connecting the institution to the natural and historical landscape that has inspired many works in its collection.

Programs and education

The museum offers a wide array of public programs, including lectures by scholars from universities like the University of Georgia and the College of Charleston. It hosts regular family days, film screenings, and musical performances, often featuring genres rooted in the South like blues and gospel music. Educational initiatives serve K-12 students from the Central Savannah River Area with guided tours and art-making workshops. The museum also runs a docent program and publishes scholarly catalogues and the *Morris Museum of Art Bulletin* to further its educational mission.

Governance and funding

The museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a board of trustees, which has included community leaders from Augusta and beyond. Primary funding stems from an endowment established by the Morris family foundation, supplemented by grants from entities like the National Endowment for the Arts and the Georgia Council for the Arts. Additional support comes from membership contributions, corporate sponsorships from regional businesses, and annual fundraising events. This financial model ensures the museum's operations and its ability to acquire new works for the permanent collection.

Category:Art museums in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Museums in Augusta, Georgia Category:1985 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)