LAKELAND, Fla. — Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Auguste Rodin, and the Florida Highwaymen will all help (re)open one of Florida's newest and most important museums.
Formerly the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, the supersized space has been rebranded "the AGB,," which stands for the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College.
"We are no longer a small museum," says Dr. Alex Rich, executive director and chief curator at the AGB. "I think you could drop somebody in here, and they would think they were in any major city anywhere in the world."
An $8 million expansion—including seven state-of-the-art galleries housing eight new exhibits has allowed the museum to showcase more of its impressive collection, including a Robert Indiana "LOVE," Chihuly glasswork, a Robert Mapplethorpe, and more.
Admission to the AGB is free, but museum members receive a myriad of perks and benefits, including an up-close sneak peek of the new space.
The AGB is located at 800 E Palmetto St, Lakeland. For more info on the AGB, go here.
Brides, families fighting for refunds after event venue closes suddenly
“We’ve struggled so hard to scrape the money to be able to do this for her,” Irizarry said. “She’s my only girl and I wanted this so much for her.”
Couples and families who had weddings and events planned at a well-known venue that abruptly closed claim they’re out thousands of dollars and aren’t being given refunds. Annette Irizarry was supposed to hold her 15-year-old daughter’s quinceañera in August at the Clearwater location and said she’s now out the $6,160 she paid. Without that money, Irizarry said she can’t afford to have her daughter’s celebration somewhere else.
