Art Museums & Events

Lose Yourself in Art: First Coast Art Museums & Events

Downtown Jacksonville Artwalk, photo by Michael Curi on Flickr

Whether you like Vincent van Gogh, Andy Warhol or Salvador Dalí, the First Coast is full of museums and art that range from Renaissance to modern art. The area is home to several large museums that showcase international, national and local artists.

CoRK Arts Disctrict, photo by Crystal Floyd

Many privately-owned galleries and public art, such as murals, can be found throughout the First Coast. For those looking to incorporate some local art into their home, a trip to a community art walk or an art gallery may be the perfect place to find a unique, custom piece of art. Our art scene is full of a vibrant electricity that is an inspiration to anyone ready to jump in.

DUVAL-NORTH Alexander Brest Museum & Gallery

Jacksonville University 2800 University Blvd. N., Phillips Fine Arts Bldg., Jacksonville www.ju.edu Named after its benefactor, the museum features a distinct collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts, Chinese porcelain, carved ivory, sculptures, prints, Tiffany glass and more.

DUVAL-WEST CoRK Arts District

2689 Rosselle St., Jacksonville http://corkartsdistrict.com Named for its location at the corner of Rosselle and King, CoRK is a warehouse district transformed into 80,000 square feet of art studios and galleries. CoRK artists cover a range of disciplines from photography to painting to mixed media. The warehouse is not open to the public, but visitors can book appointments with artists or attend events at the location.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

829 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville www.cummermuseum.org Overlooking the lush gardens full of fountains, sculptures and arbors on the banks of the St. Johns River, the largest fine arts museum on the First Coast is the perfect mix of art, gardens and history. There are more than 5,000 works of art in the permanent collection and various traveling exhibits visit the museum each year.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville

333 N. Laura St., Jacksonville mocajacksonville.unf.edu MOCA is one of the largest contemporary art museums in the Southeast with more than 1,000 pieces of modern visual art in the permanent gallery and a variety of educational programs available for children.

Museum of Contemporary Art, photo by Michael Curi on Flickr

Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens, photo courtesy of www.wheretraveler.com

ST. JOHNS COUNTY Crisp-Ellert Art Museum

48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine www.flagler.edu Artwork from Flagler College’s own contemporary art museum contains art from international, national and local artists. Numerous exhibitions are held on site including several community programs.

Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, The

50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach www.ccpvb.org The Ponte Vedra community can experience the arts through classes, events, workshops, exhibits, outreach and educational programs. Recently, the Cultural Center opened a new facility in Jacksonville Beach to expand its reach.

St. Augustine Art Association

22 Marine St., St. Augustine www.staaa.org The St. Augustine Art Association brings extraordinary artwork to St. Johns County in the heart of St. Augustine’s art community. Both juried exhibitions and a permanent collection are part of the association.

Check Out These Art Walks and Festivals!

Artrageous Artwalk

Downtown Fernandina Beach www.islandart.org/artrageous-artwalk Second Saturday of the month

First Friday Artwalk

St. Augustine www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.com First Friday of the month

First Wednesday Art Walk

Downtown Jacksonville www.jacksonvilleartwalk.com First Wednesday of the month

Jax Beach Artwalk

First St. from Beach Blvd. to 5th Ave. N. www.betterjaxbeach.com/jax-beach-art-walk.html Second Tuesday of the Month

Mandarin Art Festival

Mandarin Community Club 12447 Mandarin Rd., Jacksonville www.mandarinartfestival.org Every Easter weekend

North Beaches Art Walk

Beaches Town Center Atlantic Blvd. and 1st St., Neptune Beach www.nbaw.org Third Thursday of the month

Riverside Arts Market

715 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville www.riversideavondale.org/ram-home Every Saturday

San Marco Art Festival

Balis Park 1999 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville Thanksgiving weekend

St. Augustine Festival of Art

Francis Field 25 W. Castillo Dr., St. Augustine www.staaa.org/festival Thanksgiving weekend