Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College Receives Funding for Museum Expansion

Florida Southern College is excited to share that Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the State’s $116.5 billion 2024-25 budget, which includes a significant allocation of $500,000 for the expansion of the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College.

A very special thank you to project sponsors Senator Colleen Burton and Representative Jennifer Canady, and the rest of the Polk County delegation, as well as Governor Ron DeSantis for their leadership and support.

For over 58 years, the Polk Museum of Art has been a cultural cornerstone in Polk County and the Central Florida region. The upcoming expansion, set to be completed in Fall 2024, will add a 14,000-square-foot expansion to the existing 1988 building. This new space will feature six additional galleries, educational art spaces, and updates to select elements of the current structure. With the Museum’s permanent collection nearing 3,000 works, this addition will allow for a rotating display of these artworks, furthering the Museum’s mission to become a premier destination art museum for all.

“Our expansion marks a transformative new chapter for the Museum, expanding not merely our space but also, in doing so, our whole community’s access to incredible art and art education experiences. The State’s support of this project bolsters our dreams for the Museum, and we are so grateful to the Governor — and all our champions in the State legislature and locally — for seeing the value in the work we do and our promise for the future of our region,” said Dr. H. Alexander Rich, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the museum.

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College plays a critical role in attracting cultural tourists from around the globe, significantly contributing to our economic vitality. Additionally, as the area’s only community academic art museum, it supports the growing Art History and Museum Studies program.

This funding ensures that visitors of all ages can experience world-class art in Polk County, providing a dynamic space to showcase renowned works and fostering a lifelong appreciation for the arts.