Who Owns the Philadelphia Art Museum?

Art|Art Museum

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a renowned art museum with an impressive collection of art from around the world. The museum was founded in 1876 and has since grown to become one of the largest art museums in the United States. With a permanent collection of more than 227,000 objects and an annual visitation of 1.25 million visitors, it is no surprise that the ownership of this grand institution is often asked about.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is owned by the City of Philadelphia and managed by the Fairmount Park Commission. The Fairmount Park Commission is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for supervising the city’s parks, recreation areas, and cultural institutions such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Commission has had control over the museum since its opening in 1876, however they do not own it outright; instead they have a long-term lease from the City of Philadelphia to manage and operate it.

Although owned by the City of Philadelphia, there are several private entities that have significant influence over how the museum is operated. These include private foundations such as The Pew Charitable Trusts which was responsible for providing much needed funding to support exhibitions and acquisitions in recent years; individual donors who provide financial assistance to fund educational programs or acquire specific works; corporations who sponsor or underwrite special exhibitions; and volunteers who help with daily operations at certain times throughout each year.

In addition to these private entities, there are also several organizations whose sole purpose is to support and promote cultural institutions such as museums including The Association for Public Art (formerly known as Fairmount Park Art Association) which was founded in 1872 with a mission to improve public access to art; The Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art which provides financial support for exhibits; and The Women’s Committee which hosts events throughout each year to raise money for educational programs at the museum.

In conclusion, while officially owned by the City of Philadelphia, there are many private entities that have significant influence over how The Philadelphia Museum of Art operates today. It is through their combined efforts that this great institution remains open today for visitors from around the world to enjoy its wonderful collections and exhibitions.