上(shang)海市(shi)(shi)群眾藝術(shu)館(guan)(guan)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)于1956年(nian)(nian)12月(yue)30日,至今已有55年(nian)(nian)的歷史,(早(zao)在(zai)(zai)民國時(shi)期(qi),上(shang)海就設(she)有“市(shi)(shi)立(li)通俗教育館(guan)(guan)”后改稱為“市(shi)(shi)立(li)民眾教育館(guan)(guan)”,始(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)于1912年(nian)(nian),首任館(guan)(guan)長柳(liu)亞子(zi))。“文(wen)革”時(shi)期(qi),市(shi)(shi)群藝館(guan)(guan)解體。1979年(nian)(nian)經中共上(shang)海市(shi)(shi)委宣傳部(bu)批(pi)準重新恢復(fu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)制。長期(qi)以(yi)來,曾在(zai)(zai)市(shi)(shi)百一店(dian)樓上(shang)、外灘現(xian)(xian)俄羅斯領事(shi)館(guan)(guan)、長樂路周信(xin)芳(fang)故居、黃陂北路226號原美術(shu)館(guan)(guan)、復(fu)興中路文(wen)化廣場等(deng)地臨時(shi)辦公,先(xian)后搬(ban)遷(qian)16次。2001年(nian)(nian)6月(yue),搬(ban)遷(qian)到(dao)現(xian)(xian)址(原上(shang)海市(shi)(shi)戲曲學校)。2006年(nian)(nian)經市(shi)(shi)政(zheng)府批(pi)準,在(zai)(zai)現(xian)(xian)原址進行(xing)了擴建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)改造(zao)。現(xian)(xian)有建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑面積17300多平方(fang)米。
市(shi)(shi)群(qun)藝館(guan)的功能定位在其(qi)歷史(shi)沿革(ge)中(zhong)始終是與時(shi)俱進的。五(wu)十年(nian)代以(yi)掃(sao)盲(mang)教育為主,六十年(nian)代以(yi)開展群(qun)眾(zhong)性(xing)文(wen)藝活(huo)(huo)動為主,1979年(nian)恢復建(jian)制后(hou),盡管多(duo)次搬遷,條件窘迫(po),仍(reng)在上(shang)海群(qun)眾(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)工(gong)作(zuo)領(ling)域取得不(bu)少成績(ji)。隨著公共文(wen)化(hua)服務(wu)體系建(jian)設的興起,我館(guan)在實踐中(zhong)不(bu)斷探索自身的功能定位,各級黨委和領(ling)導(dao)也給予高(gao)度關(guan)心和指導(dao)。新(xin)館(guan)建(jian)成后(hou)它將是廣(guang)大市(shi)(shi)民群(qun)眾(zhong)享受(shou)公共文(wen)化(hua)服務(wu)的重要(yao)場所,是全市(shi)(shi)群(qun)眾(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)創(chuang)作(zuo)、培訓(xun)、活(huo)(huo)動、理論研究等(deng)業務(wu)工(gong)作(zuo)的組織指導(dao)和協調機(ji)構,是引(yin)領(ling)示范全市(shi)(shi)群(qun)眾(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)發展的重要(yao)基地(di)。同時(shi)還承(cheng)擔(dan)了“上(shang)海東(dong)方社(she)區文(wen)藝指導(dao)中(zhong)心”和“上(shang)海市(shi)(shi)非物質文(wen)化(hua)遺產保護中(zhong)心”的工(gong)作(zuo)職(zhi)能。
根(gen)據(ju)國務院(yuan)辦公(gong)廳(2002)7號(hao)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)《關于(yu)進一步加強基層文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)建設(she)(she)的(de)(de)指(zhi)(zhi)導(dao)意見(jian)》和(he)中組部、文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)部等四部委(wei)(2001)22號(hao)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)件(jian)對群(qun)眾(zhong)藝術館性(xing)質和(he)任(ren)務的(de)(de)歸納,上海市(shi)群(qun)眾(zhong)藝術館是(shi)“政府設(she)(she)立的(de)(de)公(gong)益性(xing)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)事(shi)業(ye)機構”,是(shi)“承擔政府公(gong)共(gong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)事(shi)業(ye)、繁榮(rong)群(qun)眾(zhong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)主導(dao)性(xing)業(ye)務部門(men)”;是(shi)“組織、指(zhi)(zhi)導(dao)、開(kai)展群(qun)眾(zhong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)活(huo)動,保護和(he)弘(hong)揚民族民間文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)”、營造良(liang)好城市(shi)人文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)環(huan)境的(de)(de)重要載(zai)體之(zhi)一,是(shi)向“社會開(kai)放、為群(qun)眾(zhong)提供公(gong)共(gong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)服(fu)務的(de)(de)場所”,在構建和(he)諧(xie)社會和(he)公(gong)共(gong)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)服(fu)務體系建設(she)(she)進程(cheng)中具有基礎性(xing)地位和(he)重要作用。