Located in the charming Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Woodmere Art Museum is a must-visit for art enthusiasts. Set in a 19th-century stone mansion on six acres, it celebrates the artistic legacy of the region. The Museum’s collection spans the 18th century through the modern era and includes paintings, sculpture, prints, decorative arts, and more.
The museum’s mission is to collect and interpret the art and artists of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. It is also committed to the educational, cultural, and economic development of the community and to the preservation of our local heritage.
To achieve its vision, Woodmere Art Museum engages in a variety of programs to enrich the lives of its members and communities. These programs include exhibitions, lectures, music and film, education programs, and family activities.
The Museum has an array of permanent and changing exhibits, highlighting the works of regional artists. The Museum also hosts special events, including music and dance performances.
Visitors can wander sky-lit galleries and Victorian parlors on their own or take a guided tour led by experts. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction held by only three percent of museums nationwide.
Its collection comprises more than 6,000 works, ranging from classical to contemporary. Some exhibitions focus on local artists, while others feature international artists.
A major focus of the collection is nineteenth-century painting, which includes works by Thomas Anshutz, Frederic Church, and Jasper Cropsey. The Museum also features a significant group of works by local Philadelphia artists, including 3,000 drawings by Violet Oakley, who was an active civic leader and the museum’s first patron.
There are numerous special exhibitions each year, which focus on particular themes or artists. Some are curated by the Museum’s Curatorial team, while others are based on donations from private collections.
The Museum’s curatorial staff is highly dedicated to bringing the museum’s collection to life through exhibitions, publications, and other educational programming. The curatorial team aims to provide visitors with an informed and meaningful experience.
Its staff is dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion, actively breaking down barriers and cultivating the participation of diverse voices. It is also committed to equity, correcting historic inequities that may be embedded in the Museum or its collections and programs.
In addition to the museum’s exhibitions, Woodmere Art Museum offers studio classes for children and adults. It also has a Love Kids Art Center, which provides free art experiences to underserved schoolchildren and their families.
Admission to the museum is free to students and seniors, and discounted for youths. The Museum also participates in Blue Star Museums, which provides free admission to military personnel and their families on Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The museum’s ACCESSIBILITY policy is simple and effective: Present an ACCESS/EBT card (or other qualifying government-issued photo ID) at the front desk to receive discounted Museum admission.
Located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, Woodmere Art Museum consists of paintings, prints, sculpture and photographs focusing on artists from the Delaware Valley. The Museum was founded in 1900, and its building, grounds, and core collection were donated by Charles Knox Smith (1845-1916), who served on Philadelphia’s Common Council. Born of modest means, he began his career as a grocer’s boy and eventually built a successful mining company. He later purchased the Woodmere estate, with the grand ambition to bring art and nature together.
