IN 1950, STERLING AND FRANCINE CLARK CHARTERED THE STERLING AND FRANCINE CLARK ART INSTITUTE AS A HOME FOR THEIR EXTENSIVE ART COLLECTION. OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1955, THE INSTITUTE HAS BUILT UPON THIS EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF WORKS TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED AND RESPECTED ART MUSEUMS IN THE WORLD, KNOWN FOR ITS INTIMATE GALLERIES AND STUNNING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. ONE OF THE FEW INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT COMBINES A PUBLIC ART MUSEUM WITH RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A MAJOR ART HISTORY LIBRARY, THE CLARK IS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION ON THE NATURE OF ART AND ART HISTORY.