The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (The AGB) at Florida Southern College

This is probably one of the best art museums I have been to in a while…. And it’s completely FREE! I spent about 2 hrs here (plus an extra 30 minutes in the beautiful little gift shop) and only left cause my feet got tired. There are a lot of exhibits and lots to see for someone like me who really moseys around in museums. The staff was also great, lots of free parking, and stuff to do in the local area if you wanted to make a whole afternoon out of it (lunch, museum, library, walk the lake). In other words— don’t hesitate to spend a Saturday afternoon here! You won’t be disappointed. PS: All of the photos included in this post are from the high school student exhibit.

There was no wait to enter and only a few minutes to begin touring the museum. The morning tour guide was knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor and pleasant style. The entire visit was interesting and enjoyable, but neither did it take too long.

World class art in a smaller museum. You could easily spend a couple of hours in this wonderful free museum. There is a collection of art by the highwaymen, Andy Warhol, Dale Chihuly glass, Rodin sculptures, impressionist art, American art by artists such as Robert Raushenberg and Robert Indiana, photographs by Ansel Adams and others, beautiful ceramics, European decorative arts from the 15th century and, of course, a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit of textile blocks and a model of Florida Southern College. Not to be missed is an exhibit of jazz legends by photographer Herman Leonard. The temporary exhibit is here until August 31. Nice gift shop and plenty of parking.

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, “The AGB” for short, is formerly known as the Polk Museum of Art (and probably what I’ll always think of it as). The name change came with a huge expansion which allowed the museum to nearly thrills its exhibition and learning spaces. And let me tell you, going there pre- & post-expansion the difference is mind boggling. Polk County & Lakeland truly have something to be proud of with this museum. And the best part? Free admission!! I wasn’t sure if it’d remain this way after their buildout but they are striving to keep it free for all to visit and enjoy. They have a really impressive collection for being a still smaller museum compared to the Met, Chicago Museum of Art or places like that. First, you walk into to see several Auguste Rodin sculptures, starting off strong. You can see Andy Warhol, an incredible mix of diverse artists from all over the world, and even a few Dale Chihuly blown glass pieces. It is all absolutely stunning. The AGB is a Smithsonian affiliate so they definitely have high standards. It’s also located in such a great spot right off of Lake Morton next to the library & Lake Morton Black & Brew, the Peach House, Misterfish, and the newer MooTown Scoops. Whether you’re feeling coffee, ice cream, drinks or actual food, it’s all with a 3-4 minute walk right there. A great museum to visit!

They have just installed new floors, the whole museum was immaculate and had some incredible pieces of art and sculptures to see and learn about. I especially enjoyed the Four Seasons which has just been restored beautiful.

It's a great experience and....FREE Coffee shop @ the Lakeland Library shares the parking lot.

They opened a new wing and renamed the place from Polk art museum. Not only do they have masterpieces, in the new wing they have chihuly blown glass, pottery, fabric art, bronze statues and large items. You visit for free. They also have a gift shop

Amazing changes!! In exhibits, multiple exhibits a children gallery. Love the new space and what you've done with it.

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, "The AGB" for short, is formerly known as the Polk Museum of Art (and probably what I'll always think of it as). The name change came with a huge expansion which allowed the museum to nearly thrills its exhibition and learning spaces. And let me tell you, going there pre- & post-expansion the difference is mind boggling. Polk County & Lakeland truly have something to be proud of with this museum. And the best part? Free admission!! I wasn't sure if it'd remain this way after their buildout but they are striving to keep it free for all to visit and enjoy. They have a really impressive collection for being a still smaller museum compared to the Met, Chicago Museum of Art or places like that. First, you walk into to see several Auguste Rodin sculptures, starting off strong. You can see Andy Warhol, an incredible mix of diverse artists from all over the world, and even a few Dale Chihuly blown glass pieces. It is all absolutely stunning. The AGB is a Smithsonian affiliate so they definitely have high standards. It's also located in such a great spot right off of Lake Morton next to the library & Lake Morton Black & Brew, the Peach House, Misterfish, and the newer MooTown Scoops. Whether you're feeling coffee, ice cream, drinks or actual food, it's all with a 3-4 minute walk right there. A great museum to visit!

This is a lovely treasure here in Lakeland. It's a free museum with a small collection of its own, but attracts famous traveling exhibitions like the most recent, Toulouse Lautrec & the Belle Époque from Greece. The museum is gorgeous, inside and out, rivaling larger cities with a small garden and sculptures. Due to the pandemic, one needs to make a reservation to attend, so they can space out viewings, and sadly you only have an hour to view. It is understandable and it is free, so you can always make a reservation to come back. There is a lovely gift shop with nice things of various prices. All the employees I encountered were very helpful and kind.

This is a small but very nice museum. They have an eclectic house collection, well worth a visit. The guest exhibits are usually amazing. The admission price can't be beat (free) The museum store is top notch. I love a good museum store and this one has some crazy cool items. The odd thing was a complete lack of any actual Polk Museum merch such as stickers or magnets... There is a second floor as well. VERY easy to miss and there are almost no signs announcing it. It's a small addition but worth seeing. When we visited, there was a photo essay on display which showed families around the world with "one week's worth of food" displayed around them (it was fascinating).

Friendly staff. Beautiful art work, so much to admire. Great place in a small town atmosphere.

Has potential but the guards for both exhibits were strangely unkind. Front receptionist was very welcoming though.

this summer camp is a disaster. the the director here clearly doesn't have kids and doesn't quite know how to manage children. this program came highly recommended so I was excited for my son to try summer 2023. but it was a disaster. my son left feeling so uncomfortable and unsure of himself - it's taken a lot to get him back into art. i would steer clear. i'm underwhelmed. and would never return.

Small art museum. Good thing is that it is free. You may want to do them and yourself a favor by buying something in the gift shop. Check website and plan your visit to see a special exhibition that interests you. We saw American Impressionism (closes 2/18/17) which was a good show. They have pre-Columbian art and contemporary American art and a few sculptures outside.

I went with friends. This museum was very nice and the sat was very helpful in explaining where all of the art ana themes were. I would definitely recommend.

What appeared to be the main exhibit, taking up the hall way ground floor was LABELED "Multi-cultural" art..... 30+ paintings of only ONE culture of people, with an Asian font painted on them, does not count as MULTI-CULTURAL.

What an amazing treasure this museum is for Central Florida! A free museum? The perfect date night or afternoon? Yes, please! Husband and I discovered the museum by accident while touring the campus of Florida Southern. It isn't especially large, so the visit will not take long, perhaps an hour. There are several rotating exhibits, and what I've really wonderful is how carefully curated each area of the museum is. You don't just walk through a room with pictures. You walk through a guided tour of the time and the people who created the art. The information isn't patronizing or too intellectual. It hits the right note every time. We fall in love with a new artist every time we go, and the works are challenging. The gift shop isn't your typical overpriced museum store. Genuine treasures to be found at reasonable rates. We are especially addicted to the Art-o-Mat, a fun machine where for a $5 token you can have a small work of art from a local artist. They're magical, bizarre, and special. It's the perfect end to a very worthwhile museum visit.

Free to enter, all you have to do is give them a zip code. Two levels, but the second level feels a little "off" as there is a school up there (maybe just in the summer?). I felt a bit off wandering the halls and looking at the exhibits up there. Some of the art is very old and can be a little sparse. It is alright, not the same as a big city, but a cool (A/C) place to spend an hour or so.

We visited the Polk Museum of Art for the Degas and Chagall exhibits. Both were very well presented, very informative; and, provided us an opportunity to learn more about two artists that we had heard about; but, knew very little about their art and their lives. The Chagall exhibit was very impressive, featuring examples of Chagall's gauche illustrations of a book of fables and the biblical story of Exodus. We enjoyed these items immensely; and, searched online for some books that might include these illustrations. The 2nd floor features abstract art, which we visited and discussed. I have some Facebook artist friends that work in abstract art; and, the process is interesting. We enjoyed this exhibit, as well as the one in the main floor lobby that features works by Cuban artists. It was very well presented as well. The gift shop had an excellent selection of items, including a catalog of the Degas exhibit, which I would have normally picked up; but, didn't on this visit. Another patron asked if the Chagall exhibit had also been cataloged; but, if it had there were no more copies left. The museum is free to the public; and, open almost every day of the year. We left a $20 donation as we sincerely appreciated and very much enjoyed our visit.

I was a guest in town and we decided to take in the Art & Dance event at the museum. Not only were the galleries wonderful, but the dance accompaniment was highly enjoyable and very well presented! It was a great addition to a 'typical' visit to a museum. The Goya and Hudson River School exhibits are wonderful and the selections significant and wide ranging. Very well presented and enjoyable. Plus the staff on hand were friendly, helpful, and very engaged! Food and drinks were a part of the event and they were delicious too. All around it was a wonderful event and one I would attend again in a minute!

The price is great: free. It's an excellent place to take your family. The staff is friendly, the exhibits rotate every few months and it's easily accessible. Suggestion: pair the museum trip with a small walk around Lake Morton and the swans. It's a fun, inexpensive way to experience Lakeland.

The current exhibit of works by Degas are a disappointment. Please read the description closely and you will notice that this is his works "on paper". Not a single painting by Degas is shown. Not one ballet scene, woman bathing or even a still life could be found at the Museum, unless you went into the Museum Shop to purchase a souvenir.

My sister, who was visiting from Texas, and I drove over 2 hours on Sunday to visit this museum which advertised that it was open from 1-5pm on Sunday, but it was closed. We arrived at 3:05pm. According to its website and the posted hours on the door, the museum was to be open. If a business advertises hours, they should definitely make sure the hours are kept. Very disappointed and will not try again or recommend!!!

As a Lakeland native, the Polk Museum of Art is a great destination for visitors and locals alike! Admission is free with the exception of a featured exhibit, but the price is budget-friendly. It is located in the downtown Lakeland, close to many restaurants and beautiful lakes. Although the museum is small (expect to spend about an hour here) this makes it perfect for younger children with short attention spans. It is typically quiet and not crowded.

I checked out this museum on a whim with a friend as it seemed like a good halfway point between Kissimmee and Tampa. So glad we popped in! They have some really interesting pieces and a much wider variety of well-known artists than I was expecting. But they have one permanent exhibit that keeps me coming back. It's a bit hidden - upstairs and down the corridor with the museum classrooms, but it is worth searching out. Quoted from press about the project: "In honor of the United Nations-sponsored International Year of the Family in 1994, award-winning photojournalist Peter Menzel brought together 16 of the world's leading photographers to create a visual portrait of life in 30 nations. Material World tackles its wide subject by zooming in, allowing one household to represent an entire nation. Photographers spent one week living with a "statistically average" family in each country, learning about their work, their attitudes toward their possessions, and their hopes for the future. Then a "big picture" shot of the family was taken outside the dwelling, surrounded by all their (many or few) material goods." I am always moved by the vast disparity in the countries pictured and the different constructions of "family" around the world. If nothing else, it's a good meditation on how much we all have to be grateful for that we have time to visit art museums without worrying what we will eat that night.

A relatively small museum but very quaint on the inside! I was unaware that it was also home to a charter school, I thought that was very neat! The young lady Amanda who worked at the front desk entrance was very sweet, darling, helpful, and professional, as were all the employees. My husband and I had a very nice day date here. I bought a few trinkets from the gift shop for a reasonable price as well :)

The Polk Museum is a fabulous cultural center for the City of Lakeland and the surrounding area. The exhibits are varied and magnificently presented and the educational programs are accessible. Most highly recommended!

Admittedly very small, but I appreciate the traditional and non-traditional exhibits. They have a good variety of mediums. They also sponsor local art walks and sales. Remember to go upstairs as there is more to see up there. I never interacted with the staff. Though not for lack of trying I tried to get some information from the desk when I entered, but conversation with the security guard seemed more interesting.

Absolute waste of an hour. Move along folks. There's nothing to see here. So boring. I took along a 10 year old who was completely bored out of her skull.

This is a fantastic local museum, I absolutely love going to it. They rotate their exhibits at least once a month and do an excellent job of showcasing local and well-known artists. The displays are always well done and they give just enough information for every piece. I think my favorite thing about the PMA though is there focus on showcasing student artist even if they aren't the best. They have a gallery entirely dedicated to local school to display student's work all the way down to elementary. I know from personal experience the joy given by being able to say your work was displayed in an art museum. I would suggest this museum to anyone. Go here, stay awhile and take in the awe inspiring atmosphere.

I checked out the museum during the Mayfaire this past weekend (yay for free admission) and I would absolutely recommend checking it out. They currently have a great Annie Leibovitz exhibit dedicated to women, and the location (right across from the lake) makes it really convenient to get to from the downtown area.

Everything R.M. said and more. They shine in student exhibits but have many regular rotating and special exhibits. Great education specialists with ongoing activities, enjoyable sculpture garden, some great movie presentations, fine small gift shop. Used to be closed Mondays (not sure if still is). Used to be free with donations accepted. In walking distance of the Public Library, Lake Morton, and Mr. Fish Eatery. (I took a star because of lack of interest/assistance in valuing some ancient Indian art I wanted to donate so gifted Big Cypress Reservation instead of locals.)

This is a nice local museum, great art shop. It takes about an hour to get through. There are free days, check the listings.

Free admission, constantly changing exhibits, and the lake nearby is a great setting. Really enjoy how they add student art to the mix, the outdoor sculpture garden and I go there often when the exhibits change. Really a great part of living in Lakeland to have it so close by.

What a great place to go for art. Always changing so you have a reason to go 3-4 times a year. After you leave go to the Lake and see the swans

We renewed our PMoA membership for 2016. Support local culture and art!

This is a wonderful museum. It was much better than we expected. They have some good local exhibits, not to mention some well-known artists.