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High Museum of Art. Photo by Aleksandr Zykov on

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about High Museum of Art

The High Museum of Art also known as colloquially the High is the largest museum for visual art in the Southeastern United States. The museum is located in Atlanta, Georgia on Peachtree Street in Midtown, the city’s arts district.

High Museum of Art is three hundred and twelve thousand square feet and is a division of the Woodruff Arts Centre. It was founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association.

The High family whom the museum is named after, donated their family home on Peachtree Street to house the collection in 1926. This followed a series of exhibitions involving the Grand Central Art Galleries organized by an Atlanta organizer.

Several pieces from the Atlanta collection became a permanent display in the High Museum of Art. In 1955, a separate building for the museum was built adjacent to the family home.

Thousands of tourists visit the High Museum of Art yearly. In 2010, around five hundred and nine thousand visitors went to the museum making it the 95th among world art museums.

International exhibitions alongside a comprehensive collection of more than 18,000 works of art of the 19th and 20th century American fine and decorative art are displayed at High. Other exhibits on display at the museum include folk and self-taught art, African art, European art, modern and contemporary art, and photography.

High Museum of Art has also served as a community centre since 1905. Festivals, live performances, public conversations, independent art films and educational programs have been hosted at the museum. The museum has special sections including dedicated spaces for children of all ages, an on-site restaurant and a museum store.

Here are the top 10 Outstanding Facts about the High Museum of Art:

1. The Museum Building was Donated by the High Family

The High Museum of Art is a major attraction site in the United States. It has been in existence for several years since it was founded in 1905.

The museum began as the Atlanta Art Association. A renowned family ensured that the museum came into existence at its current location.

The High family which the museum is named after donated their family home. Their home was located on Peachtree Street.

The aim of the High family donating their family home was to house the collection from a series of exhibitions. A separate building for the museum was also built adjacent to the original family home in 1955.

2. High Museum of Art Project Cost $124 Million

High Museum of Art. Photo by Aleksandr Zykov on

The museum was built with a special architectural design. Previously, the building was 135,000 Square feet designed by Richard Meier in 1983.

The architect won the 1984 Pritzker prize after completing the building. This building, the Meier building was funded by a $7.9 million challenge grant from Coca-Cola president Robert W.

Renzo Piano later on designed three new buildings which are 312,000 square feet. This new building was built at a total cost of $124 million.

3. The Piano Buildings Features a Special Roof System

Renzo Piano was given the duty of renovating and making major adjustments to the previous design of the High Museum of Art by Meier. Three buildings by Piano were an overall upgrade to the entire Woodruff Arts Centre complex.

The new buildings are clad in panels of aluminium to align with Meier’s original choice of a white enamel façade. It features a special roof system of one thousand light scoops that capture northern light which is filtered into the skyway galleries.

4. High Museum of Art Features a Wide Range of Collection

High Museum of Art – Atlanta, GA. Photo by Josh Hallett on

The High Museum of Art has always been a special place for preserving a wide range of collections. It displays international exhibitions alongside its comprehensive collection of more than 18,000 works of art.

Some of this Art is known for its 19th and 20th century American fine and decorative arts. Other arts collections include American fine and decorative arts, folk and self-taught art, African art, European art, modern and contemporary art and photography. The collection attracts several tourists who love art.

5. The Museum is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate

High Museum of Art plays several roles in the art industry. Other than being an art museum, it is also a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.

The Smithsonian Affiliations is a division of the Smithsonian Institution. It establishes long-term partnerships with non-Smithsonian museums and educational and cultural organizations. They share collections, exhibitions and educational strategies and conduct joint research.

6. More than 20 Special Exhibitions have been held at the Museum

Eternal Spring by Auguste Rodin at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. Photo by JJonahJackalope on

The High Museum of Art has held several special exhibitions. Some of these exhibitions featured strong global partnerships with other museums such as the Louvre, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore and the Opificio delle Pietre dure in Florence.

An US$18 million deal was inked for Louvre Atlanta, a three-year revolving loan of art from Musee du Louvre. This resulted in the museum’s highest attendance. Other than this, there have been more than twenty special exhibitions held at the High Museum of Art.

7. The Museum has been Under the Management of Four Directors

High Museum of Art has been under the management of four directors since it was established. For 28 years since 1963, Gudmund Vigtel was the director of the High Museum of Art.

During his spell as the director, several renovations and developments were made. Among them was the new design of the museum by Piano.

The other director of the High Museum was Ned Rifkin. He served as the director between 1991 and 2000.

Director Michael E. Shapiro took over as the director after Ned between 2000 and 2014. During this time, the museum nearly doubled the number of works in its permanent collection. In July 2015, the High Museum of Art announced Randall Suffolk as the new director.

8. High Featured in Several Movies and Television Shows

Interior of the High Museum of Art atrium viewed from an upper floor. Photo by Clemmonsmg on

High Museum of Art has been featured in several popular films and television shows. Some of these shows it was featured include What to Expect When You’re Expecting, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Manhunter, and Black Panther.

Others include The Divergent Series: Insurgent, Red Band Society and Allegiant. The High Museum of Art is an important centre.

9. The Museum has Dedicated Spaces for Children and other Top Sections

The High Museum of Art is widely known for its collection and exhibitions that happen throughout. Thousands of tourists from across the world tour the museum.

This museum also features dedicated spaces for children of all ages and their caregivers. Other than this, the museum also has an on-site restaurant and a museum store.

10. High Museum held a Record 509,000 Visitors in 2010

Pedestrians outside of the High, Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Chris Yunker on

The museum attracts several visitors from the United States and across the world. These numbers vary every year depending on the seasons.

In 2010, the museum recorded a record number of visitors. Five hundred and nine thousand visitors visited the museum ranking it 95th among world art museums.