[4][5] In its early years, the Academy was run exclusively by volunteers, until a growing schedule of exhibitions and classes spurred the hiring of the first curator in 1972, and the first director, Anna Larkin, in 1978.

Further renovations added a performing arts hall and dance studio and moved the entrance to the Harrison Street courtyard.

[9] The museum hosts exhibitions, concerts, lectures, educational programs and visual and performing arts classes for adults and children.

Among the late 20th century collection are pieces by Judy Chicago, Mary Cassatt, Jim Dine, Richard Diebenkorn, Robert Motherwell, Elizabeth Murray, Frederick Hammersley, Philip Pearlstein, Man Ray, Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, James Rosenquist, Kiki Smith, Pat Steir, Jacob Kainen and Anne Truitt.

The collection also includes works by photographers such as Berenice Abbott, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, William Eggleston, John Gossage, Graciela Iturbide, Lisette Model, Zanele Muholi and Aaron Siskind.