Museum of Photographic Arts
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
The Museum of Photographic Arts
A view inside the museum
The museum's library
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The museum underwent a significant renovation beginning in 1999 and reopened a year later in March of 2000. The amount of space increased from 7,000 to 32,000 square feet and a classroom and print-viewing room were added. The museum also opened The Edmund L. and Nancy K. Dubbois Research Library in 2006, with over 20,000 holdings3. Everyone is welcome to use the library, though appointments are required.
On their Youtube channel, MOPA hosts a podcast called Audio Insight, which involves personal insights from photographers and other influential people in the field. As well as featuring exhibits and collections from seasoned and adult photographers, MOPA aims to share their knowledge and love of photography with children. Each year since 2016, the museum holds a juried youth exhibition for students who participate in the photography and film educational programs.4 For adults, there are scheduled artist talks, classes, and workshops to learn and hone artistic skills. In addition, there are also frequent film screenings which take place in the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater5.
In order to ensure the enjoyment of all visitors at the museum, the MOPA offers tours in American Sign Language for every exhibition cycle. Electronic viewing aids are also available at the front desk for anyone with low vision as well as large print texts6. Service animals are welcome in the museum. For visitors with mobility limitations, everything is on one level with exception of the Dubbois Library on the Mezzanine level, which can be accessed by elevator6. Various tours are available at the museum: self-directed tours, guided tours, and behind-the-scenes tours--the last of which gives visitors a glimpse of the curation and internal processes of the museum, rather than focusing on exhibits. Admission is based on a "Pay What You Wish" basis for every day that the museum is open. Visitors can choose what to contribute, rather than pay the general admission fee, which is normally: $8 for adults, free for MOPA members and active military members and their dependents and for children ages 12 and under, $7 for Seniors, and $6 for students with a valid school ID8.
Sources
2. "MOPA's Permanent Collection." Museum of Photographic Arts. Accessed 6-26-16. http://www.mopa.org/content/permanent-collection
3. "About the Edmund L. and Nancy K. Dubbois Library." Museum of Photographic Arts. Accessed 6-26-16. http://www.mopa.org/library
4. "Annual Youth Exhibition." Museum of Photographic Arts. Accessed 6-27-16. http://www.mopa.org/youthexhibition
5. "MOPA Film Calendar." Museum of Photographic Arts. Accessed 6-27-16. http://www.mopa.org/film
6. "Accessibility." Museum of Photographic Arts. Accessed 6-27-16. http://www.mopa.org/visit/accessibility
7. "Tours." Museum of Photographic Arts. Accessed 6-27-16. http://www.mopa.org/visit/tours
8. "Gallery Admission." Museum of Photographic Arts. Accessed 6-27-16. http://www.mopa.org/visit/info