Peninsula Fine Arts Center
Encyclopedia
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center (Pfac) is an art center
located in Newport News, Virginia
and is associated with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
. It is located at 101 Museum Drive on the grounds of the park surrounding the Mariners' Museum
and is accredited with the American Association of Museums
(AAM). It was formed in 1962 as the Peninsula Arts Association (PAA) by a group of Hampton Roads
art supporters. The first official exhibit, staged in 1962, was a visit from a Virginia Museum Artmobile. It has moved and grown in size over the course of its 50 years to become one of the premier arts advocates in the area. It's one of only 20 non-collecting art centers accredited by the AAM.
In addition to changing gallery space, the Peninsula Fine Arts Center maintains a permanent "Hands On For Kids" gallery designed for children and families to interact in what the Center describes as "a fun, educational environment that encourages participation with art materials and concepts."
In 1964, PAA was moved onto the campus of Christopher Newport College before moving again to Hilton Village
and later, Newmarket South Shopping Center. Major exhibitions that were too large for these venues were held in the Mariners’ Museum.
The PAA received a significant gift in 1975 that would prove to shape its future and help it establish independence when Newport News Shipbuilding donated its former hydraulics testing laboratory. The lab was located on two acres of land in Mariners’ Museum Park across from the Mariners’ Museum. Following an intense renovation financed by community supporters, the PAA opened its new doors on November 5, 1978.
Further remodeling provided studios upstairs for the use of the Art Magnet Program of the Newport News Public School System. The program allowed talented students an opportunity to develop their artistic potential. This educational model would develop into workshops for students that include informative sessions and portfolio reviews that are still in place today.
The expansion and renovation provided an addition to triple exhibition space and to develop a suitable entry area, classrooms, workshop and art handling areas with provision for security, barrier-free accessibility and state-of-the-art temperature, humidity and ventilation systems. Usable floor space increased from 4,000 square feet to over 15,000 square feet with three galleries, a hallway gallery, video gallery, four art classrooms and a meeting room.
The official Grand Opening celebration of the Fine Arts Center was held on the weekend of April 30, 1989. The reception was marked by the opening of an exhibition called "TRIBUTARY: 3,000 Years In the Course of Art," an impressive display at the new facility that would come to hold 15-20 exhibitions a year. In total, Pfac has featured nearly 500 exhibitions in its history, including annual juried shows, holiday invitationals, high school and college competitions, as well as curated shows.
By 1992, as the Center celebrated its 30th Anniversary, the museum had grown into one of the most influential contemporary art organizations in Virginia. An exclusively 3-Dimensional exhibition in 1990 was praised as the most important contemporary art exhibit in the region in nearly a decade by local art critics.
In 1993, the Center earned accreditation by the American Association of Museums, an effort that took nearly two years of self-evaluation and an in-depth report that was analyzed for months by the AAM.
with a juried photo exhibition that represents the Peninsula today. From July through October, Pfac’s nationally recognized "Biennial" exhibition will be on display for all to enjoy.
The final and most significant exhibition, for both the Center and the region, will be 50 Great American Artists, from October through January. This exhibition is a new and unprecedented collection of artists organized by Pfac curator Michael Preble. It brings together the exceptional works of America’s greatest artists in a way never before attempted.
Art Center
Art Center may refer to:*Arts centre, a type of community centre that focuses on the arts*Art Center College of Design, a college in Pasadena, California...
located in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
and is associated with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The Virginia Museum of Fine arts, or VMFA, is an art museum in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States, which opened in 1936.The museum is owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, while private donations, endowments, and funds are used for the support of specific programs and all...
. It is located at 101 Museum Drive on the grounds of the park surrounding the Mariners' Museum
Mariners' Museum
The Mariners' Museum is located in Newport News, Virginia. It is one of the largest maritime museums in the world as well as being the largest in North America.- History :The museum was founded in 1932 by Archer Milton Huntington, son of Collis P...
and is accredited with the American Association of Museums
American Association of Museums
The American Association of Museums is a non-profit association that has brought museums together since its founding in 1906, helping develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and advocating on issues of concern to the museum community...
(AAM). It was formed in 1962 as the Peninsula Arts Association (PAA) by a group of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
art supporters. The first official exhibit, staged in 1962, was a visit from a Virginia Museum Artmobile. It has moved and grown in size over the course of its 50 years to become one of the premier arts advocates in the area. It's one of only 20 non-collecting art centers accredited by the AAM.
In addition to changing gallery space, the Peninsula Fine Arts Center maintains a permanent "Hands On For Kids" gallery designed for children and families to interact in what the Center describes as "a fun, educational environment that encourages participation with art materials and concepts."
Early Years (1962-1980)
The PAA was originally housed in downtown Newport News in the former John W. Daniel School Building. The first official exhibit was staged in 1962. Before having venues, founders shared works of art hanging from clothes lines in their backyards.In 1964, PAA was moved onto the campus of Christopher Newport College before moving again to Hilton Village
Hilton Village
Hilton Village is a planned, English-village-style neighborhood in Newport News, Virginia. Recognized as a pioneering development in urban planning, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood was built between 1918 and 1921 in response to the need for housing...
and later, Newmarket South Shopping Center. Major exhibitions that were too large for these venues were held in the Mariners’ Museum.
The PAA received a significant gift in 1975 that would prove to shape its future and help it establish independence when Newport News Shipbuilding donated its former hydraulics testing laboratory. The lab was located on two acres of land in Mariners’ Museum Park across from the Mariners’ Museum. Following an intense renovation financed by community supporters, the PAA opened its new doors on November 5, 1978.
Further remodeling provided studios upstairs for the use of the Art Magnet Program of the Newport News Public School System. The program allowed talented students an opportunity to develop their artistic potential. This educational model would develop into workshops for students that include informative sessions and portfolio reviews that are still in place today.
Expansion, Affiliation and Accreditation (1981-1993)
In 1983, the PAA officially became The Peninsula Fine Arts Center and was named an Affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. As the Center started receiving more attention, David L. Peebles was named Chairman of the Capital Campaign in 1985 to raise $1.5 million for a new wing for Pfac. With the successful commitment of the private and public sector, the ground-breaking ceremony was held March 14, 1988. Award-winning Williamsburg, VA architect Carlton Abbott designed the new addition.The expansion and renovation provided an addition to triple exhibition space and to develop a suitable entry area, classrooms, workshop and art handling areas with provision for security, barrier-free accessibility and state-of-the-art temperature, humidity and ventilation systems. Usable floor space increased from 4,000 square feet to over 15,000 square feet with three galleries, a hallway gallery, video gallery, four art classrooms and a meeting room.
The official Grand Opening celebration of the Fine Arts Center was held on the weekend of April 30, 1989. The reception was marked by the opening of an exhibition called "TRIBUTARY: 3,000 Years In the Course of Art," an impressive display at the new facility that would come to hold 15-20 exhibitions a year. In total, Pfac has featured nearly 500 exhibitions in its history, including annual juried shows, holiday invitationals, high school and college competitions, as well as curated shows.
By 1992, as the Center celebrated its 30th Anniversary, the museum had grown into one of the most influential contemporary art organizations in Virginia. An exclusively 3-Dimensional exhibition in 1990 was praised as the most important contemporary art exhibit in the region in nearly a decade by local art critics.
In 1993, the Center earned accreditation by the American Association of Museums, an effort that took nearly two years of self-evaluation and an in-depth report that was analyzed for months by the AAM.
50th Anniversary
The Center celebrates its Semicentennial in 2012 with a number of unique exhibitions. Those planned include a national exhibit, "Art and the Animal," from January through March, and a celebration of regional artists who have either taught or displayed work in other exhibitions at Pfac called "The Artists: Who We Are Past and Present," from April through July. This is a photography exhibit that illustrates the history of the Center and Virginia PeninsulaVirginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
with a juried photo exhibition that represents the Peninsula today. From July through October, Pfac’s nationally recognized "Biennial" exhibition will be on display for all to enjoy.
The final and most significant exhibition, for both the Center and the region, will be 50 Great American Artists, from October through January. This exhibition is a new and unprecedented collection of artists organized by Pfac curator Michael Preble. It brings together the exceptional works of America’s greatest artists in a way never before attempted.