• Current

    Featured exhibitions and special projects currently on view

  • Past

    Previously installed exhibitions and special projects

  • Upcoming

    See what featured exhibitions are coming up next

About Us

Our Mission

We welcome everyone with inclusive experiences that spark curiosity and foster community.

Who We Are

The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) was founded with the belief, radical among museums in 1909, that art and learning are for everyone. Today, New Jersey’s largest fine art museum is a vibrant center for the arts and community and places special emphasis on public programming that engages local artists and audiences.

As a leading cultural institution for more than a century, the NMOA stewards collections of more than 300,000 artworks and artifacts in science and natural history – the 12th largest museum collection in the nation. Known as the first institution to give sustained support to modernism in America, the NMOA continues to pursue new definitions of cultural innovation and is among the 3% of U.S. museums that are nationally accredited.

The Museum’s 4.5 acre campus offers a range of settings to explore, wonder and create including the National Historic Landmark Ballantine House, the Alice Ransom Dreyfuss Memorial Garden, and Horizon Plaza. The NMOA partners with our community to preserve and advocate for the arts, history and culture and to host special events such as the Newark Black Film Festival, the longest-running Black film festival in the United States, and the Newark Arts Festival, a four-day catalyst for the collaborative power of the arts in the city.

The NMOA puts the people of Newark, their creativity and strength at the center of its work, responding to the evolving interests of diverse audiences and critically examining its responsibility to equity.

Washington Street and the James Street Commons Historic District Neighborhood

Former Site of the Polhemus House

The Newark Museum, circa 1926.

Mr. & Mrs. C. Suydam Cutting in front of the original Tibetan Buddhist Altar, 1949

The Planetarium, 1954.

Initiatives

DEAI Statement

NMOA is committed to embedding the principles of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion (DEAI) in all aspects of its work and organizational culture. Since its founding in 1909, the Museum has been grounded in the belief that art and learning are for everyone.  Today, as communities across the nation focus on addressing systemic racism and inequality, the Museum reaffirms its dedication to this inclusive vision that has informed its aspirations, if not all of its actions and policies, for over 100 years.

In undertaking this work, NMOA defines DEAI principles as follows:

  • Diversity – Diversity is all of the factors that shape the experiences, values and perspectives of individuals.  These include but are not limited to age, mental and physical ability, gender identity, race, national origin, religion, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation.
  • Equity – Equity is the promotion of fair and just treatment, access and opportunities for all staff and members of our global community.
  • Accessibility – Accessibility is the equitable access of all people to use, experience or participate in activities, resources, facilities, and services, regardless of human ability or socio-economic status.
  • Inclusion – Inclusion refers to the intentional effort of creating environments in which all individuals or groups can feel welcomed, respected, empowered and valued. It is also an effort to cultivate leaders at all levels to fully participate in the Museum’s work with equal agency.

To advance these principles and serve our community, NMOA will:

  • Ensure that all exhibitions, programming, facilities and services are accessible to everyone.
  • Provide a forum for public discussion of vital community issues, including social justice, and equality for historically marginalized groups.
  • Include under-represented voices, stories and perspectives in exhibitions and programming.
  • Ensure that the Museum’s exhibitions, programming, collections, publications and public communications present historical facts and events accurately, and represent diverse cultures in a respectful and culturally competent manner.
  • Forge meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with diverse individuals and organizations in the community, including local BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disability advocacy groups, which will help ensure that all visitors feel welcome, valued and heard in the Museum community.
  • Diversify NMOA’s Board, leadership, staff and volunteers at all levels. These efforts will include the implementation of more equitable hiring and retention practices, the expansion of job qualifications and recruitment strategies to reach diverse candidates, and public transparency about the membership of our Board of Trustees and senior management team.
  • Conduct ongoing staff-wide DEAI professional development on issues such as developing cultural competency, and strategies for identifying, addressing and preventing discrimination, including unconscious bias, on both a personal and institutional level.
  • Create zero-tolerance policies regarding racism and microaggressions that arise within our institution and in our work with the public. These policies will be implemented through a timely and thorough complaint process followed by necessary corrective actions.

Financial Information

The Museum’s annual reports, financial statements, and 990 IRS filings are available for download as PDFs. These reports provide information on the Museum’s financial strength and provide transparency into its accounting and financial practices.

Letters from the Director

In honor of New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver

August 11, 2023

Like many of you, my heart has been heavy since the sudden passing of New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.

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Leadership

Trustees

2022 Trustees of the Newark Museum Association

Ex Officio

The Honorable Philip D. Murphy
Governor of New Jersey 

The Honorable Ras J. Baraka
Mayor of Newark

The Honorable Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Essex County Executive

The Honorable Roger León
Superintendent, Newark Board of Education

Officers

Allen J. Karp, Eric Fitzgerald Reed
Co‑Chairs

Robert H. Doherty, Marshall B. McLean
Vice Presidents

Shahid Malik
Treasurer

Linda C. Harrison
Secretary

Director Emerita

Mary Sue Sweeney Price

Trustees