Raleigh
Sep 7, 2016
The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) was recently named one of the best museums in America by the online magazine INSIDER. The museum was ranked thirteenth out of the top 25 museums in the country by the publication, which were ranked using data from the online technology company Foursquare.
"We are so very proud of the N.C. Museum of Art's standing on this list of the best museums in America," said Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz. "More and more, North Carolina is being nationally acknowledged as a destination for arts and culture, sparks for increased economic development and a stronger quality-of-life environment."
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, showed total visitation to the state's natural and cultural sites increased by nearly 1.8 million visitors, or 7.7 percent. One of the most popular destinations was the North Carolina Museum of Art, which saw an increase of 34.4 percent.
Out of the more than 35,000 museums across the country, INSIDER ranked the ones it considered to be the top 25, including museums of art, science, and history. The publication recognizes the NCMA as one of the first museums created by state legislation and funding.
NCMA Director Lawrence J. Wheeler was equally exited to learn about the museum's inclusion on the INSIDER list.
"What an honor it is to be named the thirteenth best museum in the country-and the tenth best art museum!" Wheeler said. "We are thrilled to be listed among such company as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and other world-class institutions. We thank our wonderful visitors for helping us achieve this ranking, and we hope it inspires people from across the country to come enjoy exciting and creative experiences in our galleries and Park."
About the North Carolina Museum of Art
The North Carolina Museum of Art's permanent collection spans more than 5,000 years, from ancient Egypt to the present, making the institution one of the premier art museums in the South. The Museum's collection provides educational, aesthetic, intellectual, and cultural experiences for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. The 164-acre Museum Park showcases the connection between art and nature through site-specific works of environmental art. The Museum offers changing national touring exhibitions, classes, lectures, family activities, films, and concerts. The Museum opened West Building, home to the permanent collection, in 2010. The North Carolina Museum of Art, Lawrence J. Wheeler, director, is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. It is the art museum of the State of North Carolina, Pat McCrory, governor, and an agency of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Susan Kluttz, secretary.