Mission:
The Lancaster Museum of Art and History is dedicated to strengthening awareness, enhancing accessibility and igniting the appreciation of art, history and culture in the Antelope Valley through dynamic exhibitions, innovative educational programs, creative community engagement and a vibrant collection that celebrates the richness of the region.
History:
Founded in 1986 as the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery, the current Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH) is dedicated to advancing an appreciation of art and history in the Antelope Valley. Operating two sites—the Museum of Art and History and the Western Hotel Museum—Lancaster MOAH is not only a repository for historical artifacts important to preserving the unique character of the Antelope Valley, but also a place where audiences—residents and visitors alike—may experience exhibitions of fine art and participate in a variety of art and history-based programs.
Learning is at the core of Lancaster MOAH’s mission. Collecting, exhibitions and programs are all undertaken in an effort to provide the residents of the Antelope Valley with a way of integrating art and history into their lives and taking away the lessons that these disciplines offer. By presenting quality exhibitions and programs as well as committing to the proper care and preservation of works of art and artifacts relating to history and culture of the Antelope Valley, the Lancaster Museum of Art and History is the region’s center for art and historical engagement.
MOAH’s exhibition program is diverse, offering a range of displays for all age groups. Exhibitions of dinosaur fossils and ancient Egyptian mummies have delighted children, while the presentation of artworks by artists such as Picasso, Renoir, Rembrandt and Chagall have appealed to adults.
Exhibitions that are especially relevant to the Antelope Valley have included shows on aircraft and space travel as well as displays on the industries and natural resources that built the area. For artists, the museum hosts an Annual Juried All-Media Art Exhibition and Annual High School Student Exhibition. Increasingly, the Lancaster Museum of Art and History is presenting exhibitions to the residents of the Antelope Valley that feature works by regional, national and internationally renowned artists.
