Chrysler Museum of Art

What Chrysler Museum of Art does

The Chrysler Museum of Art is a private nonprofit art museum located at One Memorial Place in Norfolk, Virginia, offering free general admission to a permanent collection of more than 35,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of history, displayed across 50 galleries. The institution traces its formal founding to 1933, but its modern character was established in 1971 when Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. donated more than 10,000 works to Norfolk — described by the Museum as one of the greatest museum gifts in American history. The collection is encyclopedic, encompassing European and American painting and sculpture, one of America's top glass collections (10,000+ objects), photography, and African, Asian, Ancient Mediterranean, and Ancient American art.

The Museum's core operating portfolio extends well beyond galleries. It includes the Perry Glass Studio — the only glass studio of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region, offering free daily demonstrations and paid classes/workshops; the Goode Works on Paper Center housing nearly 10,000 works on paper; the Jean Outland Chrysler Library with more than 106,000 rare volumes; the Moses Myers House (the oldest Jewish home in America open to the public); the Wonder Studio interactive family space; a Museum Shop; Zinnia Café; and event rental venues (Huber Court, Kaufman Theater). Educational programming includes curriculum-aligned K–12 field trips, adult group tours, art camps, teacher professional development, and college resources.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure. Earned revenue comes from a nine-tier membership program ($75 Explorer to $25,000 Avant-Garde), Glass Studio class fees (e.g., $80–$100/workshop), exhibition preview tickets, private photography sessions ($400), wedding and corporate event rentals, and Museum Shop retail. Contributed revenue is drawn from individual major donors (Masterpiece Society, Torchbearers planned-giving society), Corporate Leadership Alliance members (Dollar Tree, Bank of America, ADP), and institutional funders including the City of Norfolk, Virginia Commission for the Arts, NEA, Mellon Foundation, Art Bridges, and the Dreyfus Foundation. Distribution is primarily on-site visitation in Norfolk, supplemented by an online collection database (eMuseum), an online shop, and a reciprocal membership network of more than 400 U.S. and Canadian museums.

Name

Chrysler Museum of Art

Legal name

Chrysler Museum of Art

Website

https://chrysler.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Chrysler Museum of Art is a nonprofit, free-admission art museum in Norfolk, Virginia, serving the general public, K–12 schools, researchers, and event clients with 35,000+ objects across 50 galleries, the only glass studio of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic, a major art library, and educational programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), History Museums (THAJADAB), Art, Street Art & Creative Scene Tours (THAJAAAE), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Art museum collections
• Glass art studio
• Art exhibitions
• Art education programs
• Historic house museum

Headquarters

HQ city

Norfolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Chrysler Museum of Art operates a free-admission art museum in Norfolk, Virginia, presenting 50 galleries with more than 35,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of art history, including European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, photography, and African, Asian, Ancient Mediterranean, and Ancient American art. It supplements the galleries with the Perry Glass Studio (classes and daily demonstrations), the Jean Outland Chrysler Library (research), the Goode Works on Paper Center, the Moses Myers House (historic house), Wonder Studio (interactive digital experience), group tours, school field trips, wedding and event rentals, the Museum Shop, and a multi-tier membership program.

Product overview

The Chrysler Museum of Art is a single-site free admission art museum offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected visitor experiences. The core offering centers on 50 galleries housing over 35,000 objects spanning 5,000 years, complemented by specialized facilities including the Perry Glass Studio (the only glass studio of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic), the Goode Works on Paper Center, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library, and the historic Myers House. Supporting services include the Wonder Studio interactive digital space, Museum Shop, Zinnia Cafe, wedding/event rentals, and an extensive educational program with group tours, school field trips, and art classes. The museum operates a tiered membership program and uses eMuseum as its online collection search platform. Visitors can register for glass classes through TicketApp and support the museum through Blackbaud-powered donation/membership systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Perry Glass Studio: A state-of-the-art glass art facility on the Museum's campus offering free glassmaking demos and classes
• Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library
• Goode Works on Paper Center
• Moses Myers House
• Wonder Studio

Products and services

• Chrysler Museum of Art (Museum Galleries and Exhibitions) Free-admission art museum presenting 50 galleries with more than 35,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of art history, including European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, photography, and African, Asian, Ancient Mediterranean, and Ancient American art. Open to the general public Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m.
• Perry Glass Studio State-of-the-art glass art facility on the museum's campus offering free daily glassmaking demonstrations, classes and workshops for all skill levels, and a visiting artist series. Located at 245 Grace Street, Norfolk.
• Moses Myers House (Historic House Museum) Historic house museum at 323 E. Freemason St., Norfolk — the oldest Jewish home in America open to the public, offering a glimpse of life of an early 19th century merchant family. Open Saturday and Sunday noon-5 p.m. with small group tours by appointment.
• Jean Outland Chrysler Library Art research library with more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, described as one of the most significant art libraries in the South. Reading Room open Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Stacks and Archives at Old Dominion University by appointment.
• Goode Works on Paper Center Dedicated space housing nearly 10,000 photographs, drawings, prints, and other works on paper — comprising one-third of the museum's permanent collection. Includes state-of-the-art storage facility and a Study Room open by appointment. Located on the second floor of McKinnon Galleries.
• Museum Shop Retail store offering a selection of artful gifts, jewelry (including unique glass pieces), books, decorative items, cards, toys, and one-of-a-kind pieces from local artisans and fair-trade sources. On-site location plus online shop at shop.chrysler.org.
• Wedding and Event Rentals Event venue rental service offering multiple spaces including Huber Court (atrium), Perry Glass Studio, Kaufman Theater, and Zinnia Cafe and Garden for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. Includes private photography sessions at $400 for a two-hour Monday session.
• Group Tours Guided and self-guided tours for adult groups of 8 or more, with themes including Meet the Museum, Ancient Worlds, Elements of Art, American Art/American History, and Glassmaking Demonstrations. Recommended 4-6 weeks advance booking.
• School Field Trips Educational field trip programs for Pre-K through grade 12, including curriculum-aligned themes such as Meet the Museum, Art ABC's, Animals in Art, STEAM, Ancient Influences, Elements of Art, and Glass Magic, plus hands-on art-making workshops. Groups of up to 60 students.
• Membership Program Multi-tiered annual membership program ranging from $75 (Explorer) to $25,000 (Masterpiece Society Avant-Garde) with benefits including event discounts, reciprocal access at 400+ museums, private tours, curator coffees, art travel, and exhibition sponsorship recognition. Gift memberships available.
• Wonder Studio Family-friendly, interactive digital space that combines digital technology with works from the collection to engage visitors with immersive experiences, including digital easels for creating art.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free admission ensures barrier-free access for all visitors
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Native Advisory Committee (comprising 12 tribal representatives)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Chrysler Museum formed a Native Advisory Committee in 2022 with 12 tribal representatives from across Virginia including Chickahominy, Nansemond, Nottoway, Pamunkey, Monacan, and others. The committee shapes the museum's programming and Indigenous collection through feedback and support. The Land Acknowledgement was initiated through this committee and approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2022.
• City of NorfolkcoreOthersGovernmental supporter providing funding and institutional endorsement. Norfolk is the host city of the Chrysler Museum. The museum acknowledges the City of Norfolk as a key supporting partner on its website.
• Virginia Commission for the ArtscoreOthersState arts agency providing funding and programmatic support. Listed among 'With Generous Support From' on the museum's website alongside other institutional supporters.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)coreOthersFederal arts funding agency providing financial support. Listed among 'With Generous Support From' on the museum's website as part of its institutional funding acknowledgment.
• Norfolk Society of Arts (NSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Norfolk Society of Arts dates to 1871 and played a key role in establishing the museum. NSA members have been generous supporters throughout the museum's history and continue as an affinity group. The group was foundational to the museum's existence.
• Dallas Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chrysler Museum is hosting 'Constellations: Contemporary Jewelry from the Dallas Museum of Art,' a major traveling exhibition featuring more than 350 works by artists from 41 countries. Opening July 10, 2026. This is a significant inter-museum collaboration bringing the DMA collection to Hampton Roads audiences.
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFree reciprocal membership benefits are available to Chrysler Museum members at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. This cross-institutional partnership enhances member value and encourages regional museum visitation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA): The Commonwealth of Virginia's flagship art museum in Richmond. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping collection scope (encyclopedic art), reciprocal membership partnership with Chrysler, and shared state-level audience.
• Corning Museum of Glass: The leading U.S. museum dedicated to glass art and history. Directly comparable on the glass-collection and glass-studio dimensions that distinguish Chrysler, though it is a single-focus institution.
• Toledo Museum of Art: Mid-sized encyclopedic art museum with a renowned glass collection and a working glass studio (Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion). Closest match to Chrysler's combined art-museum-plus-glass-studio model.
• High Museum of Art: Leading mid-sized encyclopedic art museum in Atlanta with free admission for members and active educational programming. Comparable in collection breadth, programming depth, and southeastern U.S. market positioning.

Regional players

• Speed Art Museum: Kentucky's largest art museum with an encyclopedic collection and free admission model. Comparable in scale, free-access approach, and educational programming, though it operates in a different region.
• Birmingham Museum of Art: Mid-sized encyclopedic art museum in Alabama offering free admission. Similar in size, free-access positioning, and breadth of collection spanning multiple cultures and time periods.
• Mint Museum: Charlotte, NC-based art museum with encyclopedic collections including American, European, and craft/design. Comparable in scale, southeastern U.S. positioning, and emphasis on craft and decorative arts.

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia Museum of Art: Major encyclopedic art museum with deep American, European, and decorative arts holdings. Larger, more established institution serving overlapping functions (collection, education, exhibitions, events).
• Denver Art Museum: Major encyclopedic art museum in Denver with strong educational programming and notable New World, Native American, and Western art holdings. Comparable in collection scope and educational outreach emphasis.
• Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: One of the largest U.S. art museums with encyclopedic collections, glass programming, and a separate Bayou Bend collection (historic house museum) — a structural analog to the Moses Myers House.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/chryslermuseum
• Xx.com/ChryslerMuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chrysler Museum of Art