The Norton Museum Of Art – Culture And Fun In West Palm Beach

If, like me, you had absolutely no idea that this fabulous museum and event space existed, there could be a reason for that. The Norton Museum of Art only recently re-opened (February 2019) after some major remodelling, and a rather large injection of brilliance – and cash – adding 12.000 sq feet of galleries, new classrooms, a classy restaurant, an auditorium and a sculpture garden. The museum originally dates back to 1941, when it was founded by Ralph and Elizabeth Norton.

Having been the curator of a (much smaller and humbler) museum, I am now really picky about museums. Quite frankly, I don’t like most of them with some notable exceptions, and the Norton is one of those. I have to take my hat off to the director of this museum. They have done an absolutely outstanding job. Not only are the collections and exhibitions beautifully curated, there is also a comprehensive program of hands-on activities, workshops and events for young and old. It’s definitely one of the best museums in South Florida. Maybe THE best? I’ll leave that to you to decide.

When we got there, the Norton was positively humming with people and excitement, so much so it would be the envy of any museums director up and down the country. So what makes this West Palm Beach museum so appealing?

What is there to do and see?

Well, where do I start? The museum is big, and in my opinion completely outshines similar establishments in Fort Lauderdale and Miami (not naming any names) in architecture, exhibition space and content. The Norton Museum is bright, with clean lines and spacious as well as beautiful galleries. It is clear that no expense was spared to make the space appealing, modern and flooded by natural light.

The exhibitions are varied, with more contemporary art on the ground floor and some more traditional art and paintings as you venture to the upper floors. There truly is something for everyone here. Being an archaeologist, I particularly enjoyed a current exhibition of Chinese art going back to prehistoric times. It was very interesting, well executed and would not have been out of place in one of the best museums in New York or a European capital city.

Many well-known artists’ works crop up here and there throughout the Norton, so if you pay attention you will find something by Rubens, Damien Hirst, and other known artists from various time periods.

I love nature, so “naturally” was extremely pleased to find such a great space outdoors. The museum was pretty crowded when we were there; ambling in the sculpture garden provided a great alternative for escaping some of the crowds and enjoying the landscaping and sculptures. There is a beautiful courtyard also, another tranquil and classy space furnished with a few benches, some palm trees, and plenty of orchids. If you need to sit down, relax and rest your eyes for a bit, the courtyard is minimalist and just perfect.

And of course there’s always time for a bit of silly fun…

For families and those who like it hands on

How do I know that a museum is “alive” and wants to engage visitors? When they have a running program of lots of events and hands-on activities for children and adults. When we were there, the classrooms upstairs were a flurry of activity. There were workshops for kids to create their own piece of art, as well as a dance workshop and lots of other “stuff” going on bringing the museum alive. You can check the Norton’s family program here. The museum also has a wealth of adult programs which you can peruse here. All seems to have been curated much like the art, with diversity, fun and a wide range of tastes in mind.

The Details

The Norton Museum of Art is located at: 1450 S Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The museum is closed on Wednesdays but open all other days from 10am-5pm, except Fridays (10am-10pm) and Sundays (11am-5pm).

Admission prices are as follows:

Please take note that at the time of writing, Fridays and Saturdays are free for everyone, yes, absolutely free! So if you are always hunting around for free things to do in South Florida, look no further. It’s a great deal. We were lucky to take advantage of this and I feel the exhibition would have been a “good deal” even at full price. You can easily spend the best part of a day at the museum and indulge in a nice lunch at the restaurant or a picnic in the sculpture garden. I know we will be back. The Norton Museum of Art makes for a great day out.

Have you been? Did you enjoy it as much as I did? I would love to read any comments…thank you!