Mission:
To serve a national role for the United States by preserving, collecting, exhibiting and fostering the understanding of works of art, at the highest possible museum and scholarly standards.

Background:
Created in 1937 by a joint resolution of Congress, the National Gallery of Art houses collections that illustrate major achievements in painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and works on paper from the Middle Ages to the present. Built from the extensive collection of financier Andrew W. Mellon, the gallery now holds more than 110,000 objects. The gallery's East Building, opened in 1978, accommodates its growing collections and expanded exhibition schedule. It also houses an advanced research center, administrative offices, a great library, and a burgeoning collection of drawings and prints. In 1999, the gallery opened an outdoor sculpture garden in the 6.1-acre block adjacent to the West Building.

Outstanding Web Features:
Through the National Gallery of Art's Web site, users can search and access records on any object in the gallery's collection, including images of more than six thousand items. The NGA Classroom, which provides online resources for teachers and students. The NGA loan program enables educational institutions, community groups, and individuals to borrow slide teaching programs, multimedia programs, videocassettes, CD ROMs, DVDs, and videodiscs. The site also provides links to its exhibitions, programs and events, and online tours of the gallery. NGA Kids offers children a wide variety of adventures with art, including guided tours through the sculpture garden and a game of hide and seek.