上海(hai)市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)群(qun)眾藝(yi)術館(guan)(guan)建(jian)(jian)于1956年(nian)(nian)12月30日,至今(jin)已有55年(nian)(nian)的歷史,(早在(zai)民國時期(qi),上海(hai)就設(she)有“市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)立(li)通俗(su)教(jiao)育館(guan)(guan)”后改稱為“市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)立(li)民眾教(jiao)育館(guan)(guan)”,始建(jian)(jian)于1912年(nian)(nian),首(shou)任館(guan)(guan)長(chang)柳亞子(zi))。“文(wen)革”時期(qi),市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)群(qun)藝(yi)館(guan)(guan)解(jie)體。1979年(nian)(nian)經(jing)中共上海(hai)市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)委宣傳部批(pi)(pi)準(zhun)(zhun)重新(xin)恢復建(jian)(jian)制(zhi)。長(chang)期(qi)以(yi)來,曾在(zai)市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)百一店(dian)樓上、外(wai)灘現(xian)俄羅斯領(ling)事館(guan)(guan)、長(chang)樂路(lu)周信芳故居、黃(huang)陂(po)北(bei)路(lu)226號原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)美(mei)術館(guan)(guan)、復興中路(lu)文(wen)化廣場等地臨時辦公(gong),先(xian)后搬遷16次(ci)。2001年(nian)(nian)6月,搬遷到現(xian)址(原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)上海(hai)市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)戲曲學(xue)校)。2006年(nian)(nian)經(jing)市(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)政府(fu)批(pi)(pi)準(zhun)(zhun),在(zai)現(xian)原(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)址進行了擴建(jian)(jian)改造。現(xian)有建(jian)(jian)筑面積17300多平(ping)方米。
市(shi)群藝館的功能定位(wei)在(zai)其歷(li)史沿革中(zhong)(zhong)始終是(shi)與時俱進的。五十年(nian)代以掃盲教育為(wei)主,六十年(nian)代以開(kai)展群眾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)性文(wen)藝活動為(wei)主,1979年(nian)恢復建(jian)制后,盡管多次搬遷,條件窘迫,仍在(zai)上海(hai)(hai)群眾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)工作(zuo)領(ling)域取得不少成績。隨著公(gong)共文(wen)化(hua)服(fu)務(wu)(wu)(wu)體系建(jian)設的興起,我館在(zai)實(shi)踐中(zhong)(zhong)不斷探索(suo)自身的功能定位(wei),各級黨委和領(ling)導(dao)(dao)也給予高(gao)度關心和指導(dao)(dao)。新館建(jian)成后它(ta)將是(shi)廣(guang)大市(shi)民群眾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)享受公(gong)共文(wen)化(hua)服(fu)務(wu)(wu)(wu)的重(zhong)(zhong)要(yao)場所,是(shi)全市(shi)群眾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)創作(zuo)、培訓、活動、理論研究等業(ye)務(wu)(wu)(wu)工作(zuo)的組織指導(dao)(dao)和協調機構(gou),是(shi)引領(ling)示范全市(shi)群眾(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)發展的重(zhong)(zhong)要(yao)基地。同時還承擔了(le)“上海(hai)(hai)東方社(she)區文(wen)藝指導(dao)(dao)中(zhong)(zhong)心”和“上海(hai)(hai)市(shi)非物質文(wen)化(hua)遺產(chan)保(bao)護中(zhong)(zhong)心”的工作(zuo)職能。
根據(ju)國務(wu)院辦公廳(2002)7號文(wen)《關于進一步加(jia)強基層文(wen)化(hua)(hua)建設的(de)(de)指導(dao)意見(jian)》和(he)(he)中組部(bu)、文(wen)化(hua)(hua)部(bu)等四部(bu)委(2001)22號文(wen)件對群眾(zhong)藝(yi)術館(guan)性質和(he)(he)任務(wu)的(de)(de)歸納,上海市群眾(zhong)藝(yi)術館(guan)是“政(zheng)府(fu)設立的(de)(de)公益性文(wen)化(hua)(hua)事(shi)業(ye)機構(gou)”,是“承擔政(zheng)府(fu)公共(gong)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)事(shi)業(ye)、繁榮群眾(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)主導(dao)性業(ye)務(wu)部(bu)門(men)”;是“組織、指導(dao)、開展(zhan)群眾(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)活動,保護和(he)(he)弘揚民(min)族民(min)間文(wen)化(hua)(hua)”、營造良(liang)好城市人文(wen)環(huan)境(jing)的(de)(de)重(zhong)要載體(ti)之一,是向“社(she)會開放、為(wei)群眾(zhong)提(ti)供公共(gong)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)服(fu)務(wu)的(de)(de)場所”,在構(gou)建和(he)(he)諧社(she)會和(he)(he)公共(gong)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)服(fu)務(wu)體(ti)系建設進程中具有基礎性地位(wei)和(he)(he)重(zhong)要作用。