Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (The AGB) at Florida Southern College Employee Directory
Non-profit OrganizationsFlorida, United States11-50 Employees
Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College operates as a teaching museum in Lakeland, Florida, affiliated with the college and dedicated to providing accessible art experiences for a broad audience. Its permanent collection exceeds 2,500 works and includes pieces by notable artists, while year‑round exhibitions showcase American figurative art from Florida Southern College’s collection, made possible by a generous donation from alumnus J. William Meek III. The institution engages the public through educational programs and outreach, drawing about 140,000 visitors annually and offering tours for roughly 5,000 fourth‑grade students along with nine K‑12 student art exhibitions each year. The museum positions itself as a non-profit arts organization within an academic setting, aiming to be among the nation’s leading academic fine art museums in collaboration with Florida Southern College. It hosts events such as the MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake, recognized as a top art festival, and has pursued partnerships and programming expansions, including a 2020 collaboration with CreateAskate to blend skate culture with artwork.