上(shang)(shang)海市(shi)(shi)(shi)群眾藝(yi)術館(guan)建(jian)于1956年(nian)(nian)(nian)12月(yue)30日,至(zhi)今已(yi)有55年(nian)(nian)(nian)的歷史,(早在民(min)國時期(qi),上(shang)(shang)海就設有“市(shi)(shi)(shi)立(li)通俗(su)教(jiao)(jiao)育館(guan)”后(hou)改(gai)稱為“市(shi)(shi)(shi)立(li)民(min)眾教(jiao)(jiao)育館(guan)”,始建(jian)于1912年(nian)(nian)(nian),首任館(guan)長(chang)柳亞(ya)子)。“文(wen)(wen)革”時期(qi),市(shi)(shi)(shi)群藝(yi)館(guan)解體(ti)。1979年(nian)(nian)(nian)經中共上(shang)(shang)海市(shi)(shi)(shi)委宣傳部批(pi)準(zhun)重新恢復(fu)建(jian)制。長(chang)期(qi)以來,曾在市(shi)(shi)(shi)百一(yi)店樓(lou)上(shang)(shang)、外灘現(xian)俄羅(luo)斯領事館(guan)、長(chang)樂路(lu)周信芳故居、黃(huang)陂(po)北路(lu)226號原(yuan)美(mei)術館(guan)、復(fu)興中路(lu)文(wen)(wen)化廣場等(deng)地臨時辦公,先(xian)后(hou)搬(ban)遷16次。2001年(nian)(nian)(nian)6月(yue),搬(ban)遷到現(xian)址(zhi)(原(yuan)上(shang)(shang)海市(shi)(shi)(shi)戲曲學校(xiao))。2006年(nian)(nian)(nian)經市(shi)(shi)(shi)政府批(pi)準(zhun),在現(xian)原(yuan)址(zhi)進行了擴建(jian)改(gai)造。現(xian)有建(jian)筑面積17300多平(ping)方米。
市(shi)群藝館(guan)的(de)功能(neng)(neng)定位(wei)在其歷史沿革中始終是與時俱進的(de)。五十年(nian)代(dai)以掃盲教育為主(zhu),六十年(nian)代(dai)以開展群眾(zhong)性(xing)文藝活動為主(zhu),1979年(nian)恢復(fu)建制(zhi)后(hou),盡(jin)管多次搬遷,條件窘迫,仍在上(shang)海(hai)群眾(zhong)文化工(gong)作(zuo)領(ling)(ling)域取得不(bu)少成績。隨(sui)著公(gong)共文化服(fu)務體系建設的(de)興起(qi),我館(guan)在實(shi)踐中不(bu)斷探索自身的(de)功能(neng)(neng)定位(wei),各級黨委和(he)領(ling)(ling)導也(ye)給予高度關心和(he)指(zhi)(zhi)導。新館(guan)建成后(hou)它(ta)將是廣(guang)大市(shi)民群眾(zhong)享受(shou)公(gong)共文化服(fu)務的(de)重(zhong)要場所,是全(quan)市(shi)群眾(zhong)文化創作(zuo)、培(pei)訓(xun)、活動、理論研究等業務工(gong)作(zuo)的(de)組織指(zhi)(zhi)導和(he)協調機(ji)構,是引領(ling)(ling)示范全(quan)市(shi)群眾(zhong)文化發展的(de)重(zhong)要基(ji)地。同時還承(cheng)擔了“上(shang)海(hai)東(dong)方社(she)區(qu)文藝指(zhi)(zhi)導中心”和(he)“上(shang)海(hai)市(shi)非(fei)物質文化遺產保護中心”的(de)工(gong)作(zuo)職能(neng)(neng)。
根據國(guo)務(wu)(wu)院辦公(gong)(gong)廳(2002)7號文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)《關于(yu)進一步加(jia)強基層文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)建設的指(zhi)導(dao)意見》和中(zhong)組(zu)部(bu)(bu)、文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)部(bu)(bu)等(deng)四(si)部(bu)(bu)委(2001)22號文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)件對群眾(zhong)藝(yi)術(shu)館性(xing)(xing)質(zhi)和任(ren)務(wu)(wu)的歸納,上海市(shi)群眾(zhong)藝(yi)術(shu)館是(shi)(shi)“政府(fu)設立的公(gong)(gong)益性(xing)(xing)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)事(shi)業(ye)機構”,是(shi)(shi)“承擔(dan)政府(fu)公(gong)(gong)共(gong)(gong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)事(shi)業(ye)、繁榮群眾(zhong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)的主導(dao)性(xing)(xing)業(ye)務(wu)(wu)部(bu)(bu)門”;是(shi)(shi)“組(zu)織、指(zhi)導(dao)、開展群眾(zhong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)活(huo)動,保護和弘揚民族(zu)民間文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)”、營造(zao)良好城(cheng)市(shi)人文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)環境的重要載體之(zhi)一,是(shi)(shi)向“社會開放、為群眾(zhong)提供(gong)公(gong)(gong)共(gong)(gong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)服務(wu)(wu)的場所”,在構建和諧(xie)社會和公(gong)(gong)共(gong)(gong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)服務(wu)(wu)體系(xi)建設進程(cheng)中(zhong)具(ju)有(you)基礎性(xing)(xing)地位和重要作(zuo)用。