Organization
Legacy through art: How one woman’s vision changed St. Petersburg.
Most St. Petersburg residents know the iconic Kapok tree at the corner of Beach Drive and 2nd Avenue North. Its vibrant red blooms demand attention, a form of art in and of itself. But many may not know the tree was planted in 1965, the year the Museum of Fine Arts opened, on the spot once home to a debilitated office used by Margaret Acheson Stuart to bring her vision of a world-class art museum to life. St. Petersburg is privileged to experience Stuart’s legacy in the Museum of Fine Arts.
Through her vision, dedication, and financing, the museum has stood for over fifty years as an important city landmark presenting the only comprehensive art collection in Florida. With over 20,000 objects, spanning 5,000 years of civilization plus an ever-changing collection of premier exhibitions, the MFA is thriving and remains committed to preserving art for the enjoyment of all.
Legacy through art: How one woman’s vision changed St. Petersburg.
Most St. Petersburg residents know the iconic Kapok tree at the corner of Beach Drive and 2nd Avenue North. Its vibrant red blooms demand attention, a form of art in and of itself. But many may not know the tree was planted in 1965, the year the Museum of Fine Arts opened, on the spot once home to a debilitated office used by Margaret Acheson Stuart to bring her vision of a world-class art museum to life. St. Petersburg is privileged to experience Stuart’s legacy in the Museum of Fine Arts.
Through her vision, dedication, and financing, the museum has stood for over fifty years as an important city landmark presenting the only comprehensive art collection in Florida. With over 20,000 objects, spanning 5,000 years of civilization plus an ever-changing collection of premier exhibitions, the MFA is thriving and remains committed to preserving art for the enjoyment of all.
Company Overview
Company Name
Museum of Fine Arts
Year Established
1965
Number of Employees
35
Profile
The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida was founded by Margaret Acheson Stuart (1896-1980) and reflects her vision of providing outstanding examples of world art in an inviting, elegant setting. The MFA, a city landmark, opened to the public in 1965–the first art museum in St. Petersburg located on the downtown waterfront. Keeping the galleries intimately scaled was important to Mrs. Stuart. The Museum is dedicated to serving all people by pursuing excellence in art from antiquity to the present through the MFA collection, exhibitions, and education for its diverse audiences.
Awards & Accolades
The Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg won accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 1973 and reaccreditation in 1983, 1998, and 2010. This recognizes the high professional standards of the organization; fewer than 800 of America’s estimated 21,000 museums are accredited.
Core values/mission statement
Our mission is to engage, educate and excite the community by collecting, exhibiting, and preserving works of art for the enjoyment of all.
Company Leadership
Kristen A. Shepard Influencer
Executive Director
Chief executive responsible for an annual operating budget of $5.5 million, overseeing a staff of 35 plus 400 volunteers. The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg is a collecting museum serving more than 120,000 annual residents and visitors to the Tampa Bay area since its founding in 1965. The MFA is proud to present the only comprehensive art collection in Florida, spanning 5,000 years of civilization in about 20,000 objects from antiquity to today. Highlights include masterpieces from Monet, Corot, Morisot, O’Keeffe, De Kooning, Rauschenberg, Whistler and others; a sculpture garden; a glass gallery featuring works by Tiffany, Steuben, and Chihuly; and one of the largest and most respected photography collections in the Southeastern United States. The museum offers 300 public programs to a diverse community each year.
