Fitchburg Art Museum

• Illustration — Courtyard and bridge connecting the Simonds and Merriam Parkway buildings, Fitchburg Art Museum The Fitchburg Art Museum serves the cities of Fitchburg and Leominster, along with the surrounding communities in north-central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. FAM was founded in 1925 through a bequest of artist, collector, and educator Eleanor Norcross. The museum was designed by Mary Almy and opened its galleries to the public in the Merriam Parkway Building in downtown Fitchburg on April 17, 1929. The museum's complex of four interconnected buildings, with more than 20,000 sqft of exhibition and educational space, features exhibitions from FAM's permanent collections plus special loan exhibitions focused on regional contemporary art. Its permanent collection includes more than 7,000 artworks, including works by Fitchburg-based artists Eleanor Norcross, Samuel Adams, and Constance Bigelow. Collection strengths include American art and photography and African art, including Ancient Egyptian art. The Egyptian collection is presented in an interactive gallery designed for families and school groups. Admission is free for all visitors. In 2012, FAM began its rotating contemporary New England artist exhibition program, connecting the strength of its historical collections with contemporary art practices. There is also an annual survey show featuring the recent work of many living New England artists, including numerous artworks for sale. Each temporary exhibition is accompanied by an interactive educational exhibit in the Learning Lounge, where visitors of all ages can learn about what they are seeing in the galleries and better understand their own reactions to the exhibits.