Established:
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) originated in 1910 and was officially established in 1961.
LACMA has acquired a vast collection of over 100,000 objects that span the centuries from ancient times to the present.
History:
LACMA originated in 1910 as part of the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art, but it was not until 1961, that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art was established as an art museum. In 1965, LACMA opened at its current location on Wilshire Boulevard.
As the years progress, the art institution has expanded. It now includes the Art of the Americas which houses the collection of modern and contemporary art, the Pavilion for Japanese Art, and LACMA West.
The Transformation project is a collection of buildings designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop which include the 3-story Broad Contemporary Art Museum showcasing postwar art, the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion which is a naturally lit, open-plan museum space, and a restaurant and bar.
Mission:
"To serve the public through the collection, conservation, exhibition, and interpretation of significant works of art from a broad range of cultures and historical periods, and through the translation of these collections into meaningful educational, aesthetic, intellectual, and cultural experiences for the widest array of audiences."
Location:
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is located in central Los Angeles, midway between downtown and Santa Monica, 1/2 mile south of the Grove. It is easy to access via bicycle, bus, car, and taxi.
Museum's Conservation Department:
LACMA's Conservation Center opened in 1967 and was the first conservation department on the U.S. west coast. The department is in six areas: paintings, textiles, paper, objects, collections management, and research. Over 25 staff members consist of “ conservators, scientists, technicians, fellows, interns, photographers, and administrators.”
According to the Museum’s website: “These highly trained professionals collaborate closely with other museum departments to care for both the permanent collection and works on loan from other institutions. Their diverse responsibilities include documenting condition, diagnosing problems, and recommending repairs; monitoring the museum environment to ensure that appropriate temperature, humidity, and light levels are maintained; and establishing procedures for safe storage and transport.”
Famed Artworks in Collection:
LACMA's vast collection spans the world's cultural heritage and includes Egyptian art, Greek, Roman, and Etruscan Art, African art, American art, pre-Colombian art, Chinese art, Islamic art, European painting and sculpture, and modern and contemporary art. It also includes costumes and textiles, decorative arts and design, photography and prints.
Highlights include the notorious installation "Back Seat Dodge ’38" (1964) by Edward Kienholz, and Renaissance and baroque polychrome sculptures.
Noteworthy Facts:
LACMA is preserving the historic Watts Towers which is a historical landmark that was constructed between 1921 and 1955 by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia.
Employment Information:
Job listings at the Museum change regularly, so be sure to check these online job listings periodically.
LACMA posts employment opportunities for full-time and part-time and temp jobs. Positions sometimes include curators, marketing, administration, fund-raising, visitor services and security.
How to Apply for a Job:
According to the Museum's website: "To be considered for any of the openings listed, please forward your resume including a list of references, and a cover letter indicating position(s) of interest, as well as any salary requirements, to LACMA Human Resources, by any of the following means:
- Online: Follow the link at the bottom of the position posting to apply through the online system. Please note that through the online system, you may attach only one file, so please combine cover letters & resumes into one document. Not compatible with Firefox.
- Fax: 323 857-4720
- Mail: Human Resources, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036."
Museum's Contact Info:
Visitor information:
LACMA,5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90036, Tel 323 857-6000
Email: publicinfo@lacma.org
Museum's Hours:
LACMA is open every day except Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Monday 11 am–5 pm
- Tuesday 11 am–5 pm
- Wednesday Closed
- Thursday 11 am–5 pm
- Friday 11 am–8 pm
- Saturday 10 am–7 pm
- Sunday 10 am–7 pm
