Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)
‘One of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States’ makes up your next Midtown Michigan stop, the Detroit Institute of Arts, or DIA. Founded in 1927, this Beaux-Arts and Renaissance Revival building is considered to be a ‘beacon of culture for the Detroit area’, a Woodward Avenue complex that holds over 100 different galleries, a stunning 1,500 seat auditorium, a 350 seat lecture hall, an art reference library, and a state of the art ‘conservation services lab’ all within its 658,000 square feet. The entire museum with its various collections inside is considered to be ‘one of the top 6 in the U.S'!
Inside the DIA you will find a ‘multicultural and multinational survey of human creativity from prehistoric times to the 21st century’. This spans across so many different art forms and time periods that it is certain you will find some type of artistic expression you will appreciate inside. There are American, European, Modern and Contemporary works of art, plus graphic art, African American, Oceanic, Islamic, Asian, and Native American art. Many guests who come to Detroit looking for regional history will love the ‘General Motors Center’, a specific area within the museum created in 2000 to celebrate and present African American Art.
There are several different onsite tours available to those interested, such as the general group tours, guided tours, or field trip tours (the later of the list including teacher resources and student worksheets). If you work up an appetite after touring/browsing the galleries head over to CafeDIA or Kresge Court Coffee Stop for some mid-day snacks and refreshments, then be sure to head over to the Museum Shop to check out all the art and educational materials you can take home!
