EJ Solie, Made to Order Exhibition, 2021. Photo by Graham Images LLC.

What We Do

The Trout Museum of Art is all about art! A primary location for the visual arts in central Wisconsin, TMA is set in the thriving Fox Cities community. Our three floors of galleries host 12-18 exhibitions a year, sharing work from local, national, and international artists.

TMA also offers hundreds of classes and camps throughout the year, plus; free educational programming to those who need art to heal and feel inspired. Community events like TMA’s 63-year Art at the Park festival, exhibit celebrations, and community art projects make art accessible to all. Everything we do and the choices we make are guided by our mission, vision, and values.

Read our Annual Impact Report: 2019, 2020, 2021
Read the first edition of the new TMA Magazine.

Mission

Trout Museum of Art inspires and connects all people through creative experiences and the visual arts.

Claire Erickson, Art is Her 2023

Vision

Energizing the LOVE of ART

Values

Inclusive. Creative. Authentic.

Located on College Avenue

Downtown Appleton

Built in 1922 as Brettschneider’s Furniture Company, our building was donated to the Appleton Art Center (now the Trout Museum of Art) in 2002.

The gallery railings, columns, and staircase are original to the building. The front atrium expansion was donated and built by The Boldt Company in 2010. The iconic light display on the outside of our building, created by Sandy Garnett in 2013, is called Embargoed. The origami crane sculpture external to the building was created by Timm Van Hout in 2017.

In addition to the Trout Museum of Art, five other organizations hold offices in our building: newVoices, Makaroff Youth Ballet, Appleton Boychoir, Wisconsin Public Television, and Wisconsin Public Radio.

In 2022, TMA began a search for a new building location that will allow the Trout Museum of Art to expand its programming and extend its mission to inspire and connect all people through creative experiences and the visual arts. Learn More.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the 1960s, the Appleton Artists Guild set out to provide educational opportunities for local artists, create a suitable viewing gallery, and amass a permanent collection. Sharing and critiquing artwork and technique were the first activities pursued by the guild. We established our first gallery on Morrison Street in 1972 as the Appleton Gallery of Art, and moved to our current location on College Avenue as the Appleton Art Center in 2002.

In 2010, Dr. Monroe E. and Sandra Trout gifted their art collection to the Appleton Art Center, along with a $1 million endowment to preserve, protect, and promote the collection. It was at this time our name was changed to the Trout Museum of Art.

TMA does not provide authentications or appraisals to third parties concerning works of art. Please visit this site for a list of art appraisers in Wisconsin.

TMA is not adding to its permanent collection at this time.

The best way to get your name in front of TMA is to apply for our annual TMA Contemporary exhibition. This is our primary way of learning about new artists! Applications open every December 1st.

If you are an artist with a full exhibition proposal, you may email info@troutmuseum.org. Please include details and quality images for full consideration. Due to the volume of correspondence we receive, we may not be able to respond directly to each and every submission, but will reach out if interested.

Our galleries feature a rotation of work from local, national, and international artists. Exhibits may be traveling or curated by TMA. Check out our upcoming exhibitions: troutmuseum.org/view.