Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach - Free Saturdays July 17, 2010

Beyond the Figure: Abstract Sculpture in the Norton Collection Organized by the Norton Museum of Art
June 5–September 5, 2010

Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
Every Saturday
This is the deal that keeps on giving. The Norton Museum of Art's museum collection is free to West Palm Beach residents every Saturday and free to Palm Beach County residents on the first Saturday of each month (just bring an ID with proof of residency).

The Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, is the second-largest museum in Florida. Each year it welcomes more than 200,000 visitors. Its permanent collection consists of over 5,000 works concentrated in European, American, Chinese, contemporary art, and photography. It has an extensive arts education program for students in the Palm Beach County School District that includes teaching materials and study guides, and offers year-round museum tours. The executive director is Christina Orr-Cahall. The Norton Museum was founded in 1941 by Ralph Hubbard Norton (1875-1953) and his wife, Elizabeth Calhoun Norton (1881-1947). For many years, the Norton's were actively interested in fine arts and developed a sizable collection of paintings and sculpture. Ralph Norton was an industrialist who headed the Acme Steel Company in Chicago. He retired in 1939 to make his permanent home in West Palm Beach, Florida. Upon moving south, the Norton's decided to share their collection with the public, according to museum officials. In 1940, the Norton Gallery and School of Art was built on property located between South Olive Avenue and South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach and opened it doors to the public on Feb. 8, 1941. In 2003, the museum added the $20 million, three-story Gail and Melvin Nessel Wing, which includes 14 new galleries, an enclosed courtyard for special events and a glass ceiling installation commissioned from Dale Chihuly. It also includes Cafe 1451 a coffee bar and restaurant offering salads, sandwiches and main fare.

Museum Hours
Tuesday - Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Second Thursday of each month - 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays and on major holidays

Hours and Admission: Norton Museum of Art 1451 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Phone: 561.832.5196 (Includes access to Special Exhibitions and the Norton Collection)
- $12 for adults
- $5 for visitors ages 13-21
- Free for Members and children under 13.
- $10 for Adult Group Tours
- Free for School Group Tours
- Every Saturday, admission to the Norton Collection only is free for residents of West Palm Beach, with proof of residency.
- The first Saturday of each month, admission to the Norton Collection only is free for residents of Palm Beach County, with proof of residency.

http://www.norton.org/Visit/HoursandAdmission/tabid/79/Default.aspx

Official Website: http://www.norton.org