An Investment in Culture
The Polk Museum of Art Expansion and Renovation
The Polk Museum of Art has been an integral part of Lakeland’s community since construction on its building was first completed in September of 1988. The museum has since served as a valuable resource, one that offers the community of Lakeland a culturally copious social environment in which its members can encounter and share in original works of art from different cultures and periods in time. Now, over 30 years later, the museum is about to get a $6 million dollar upgrade.
In February of this year, the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College announced plans for a $6 million expansion, resulting in a total renovation of the museum. The 10,000 ft expansion will add more gallery, classroom, and art laboratory space. Such an upgrade will triple the museum’s current gallery space.
The museum’s expansion will be a two-story building addition located on the northwest side of the current building. The expansion plans to modernize the museum’s current exterior, while also adding much more space (10,000 ft). The museum’s current entrance will be renovated, along with the flooring located throughout the first floor, the second floor galleries, classrooms, and office spaces. The new expanded galleries and multi-functional exhibition spaces be able to feature more artwork from the museum’s large permanent collection that features art from around the globe.
With hopes that the renovation and expansion of the museum will provide additional hands-on experiences for students; including internships, volunteer opportunities, and pre-professional development programs, the Polk Museum of Art has one thing in mind: the people who live here. All of these efforts continue the upwards trajectory of the museum as they aim to become one of the nation’s leading academic fine art museums and scholarly centers for the study of the arts and visual culture. The museum plans to begin construction on the new expansion and renovation plans for the space later this year, and aim to be completed by spring of 2024.