Welcome to the Ava Gardner Museum!

The Ava Gardner Museum is open seven days a week, go to the Visit the Museum page for hours and admission information. Come see our new look and explore our brand new exhibits featuring costumes from Ava Gardner’s five-decade career in film and television.

If you are unable to travel to Smithfield, don’t worry because we have lots of ways you can engage with the Ava Gardner Museum online. We share interesting facts about Ava’s remarkable life and items from our vast collection on our social media, blog, and website. We also have new virtual offerings that bring the Museum to you at home including episodes of our virtual conversation series entitled Ava Chats and virtual exhibits which coincide with our physical exhibits.
 
If you would like to support the Ava Gardner Museum and our mission of sharing Ava’s story with the world, consider shopping in our online gift shop or donating to the Museum. For the latest updates about our programs, special events, or other Museum news, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media. Thank you for your continued support!

To support the Ava Gardner Festival and Centennial Planning Committee - click each level and give online.

A Musical Tribute to Ava Gardner, Sponsor - $5,000
The opening night concert at The Clayton Center on Friday, October 7, features the big band sounds of the NC Revelers Orchestra playing Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra classics with special guest, Broadway actor and singer, John Arthur Greene. Jonathan Levin, founder of the Clayton Piano Festival, will perform a selection of Ava’s movie show tunes with jazz vocalist Angelique Alexander. Concert Sponsors receives 4 reserved premium seats, 4 Heritage Tour tickets, 4 admission tickets to the Museum, and special recognition on the museum’s website, logo on event banners, and mentions in all festival publicity.

Fashion Icon Sponsor - $1,000
2 reserved premium seats to the concert, 2 tickets to the Museum for the festival weekend, 2 festival gift bags with T-shirts. Company logo on festival banners, and logo in the concert program Museum website link for 12 months and mentions in all festival publicity.

Hollywood Legend Sponsor - $500
2 tickets to the concert, 1 ticket to the Museum for the festival weekend, 1 festival gift bag with T-shirt. Company logo on festival banners, listing in the concert program and mentions in all festival publicity.

Grabtown Girl Sponsor - $250
1 ticket to the concert on Friday, October 7th. Festival gift bag with T-shirt, and Listing in the concert program and on festival banners.

The Museum is a 501 (c) (3) organization and donations are tax-deductible.

Did You Catch Ava on the PBS Show NC Weekend?

If you missed it, be sure to watch the recent segment below...

Executive Director Lynell Seabold and Host Deborah Holt Noel discuss Ava's life, career, loves, and the recent museum remodel. For the full episode - CLICK HERE.