Update!  The Chihuly opening has been pushed back to July 11th...look for more information to come over the next few months at www.moreanartcenter.org.

The Board of Trustees of the Morean Arts Center is pleased to announce that "The Chihuly Collection presented by the Morean Arts Center" will open to the public the weekend of July 4^th, 2010 at 400 Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. "We are very excited and proud to bring the work of the world - renowned artist, Dale Chihuly, to the Tampa Bay region," said Katee Tully, Executive Director of the Morean Arts Center. "This underscores not only the commitment of t he Morean Arts Center, but it further cements St. Petersburg's reputation as a leading destination for the creative arts." The Chihuly Collection will be exhibited in the Morean's new 10,000 square foot space on Beach Drive. This new acquisition by the Mor ean Arts Center is a prime example of its leadership in the arts and in arts education in the region.

A pioneer of the studio glass movement, Chihuly is credited with transforming the methods of creating glass art and thereby leading the development of c omplex, multi - part glass sculptures and environmental art. However, his contributions extend well beyond the boundaries of the studio glass movement and even the field of glass: his achievements have influenced contemporary art in general. "I look forward to bringing my artwork to the Morean Arts Center and to the City of St. Petersburg," said Chihuly.

Five years ago the Morean Arts Center articulated a vision to bring a permanent collection of Dale Chihuly's work to St. Petersburg to enrich the arts com munity, and with this announcement, the dream is only a few months away from becoming reality.

Want to learn more about the Morean Arts Center?  Click here!