The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has submitted plans for approval for a $40 million expansion of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.
The expansion is funded by the $600 million Campaign for History and Citizenship capital campaign which has been running for two years and has almost reached its target.
Plans include a new wing, adding 65, 000 square feet of gallery space; improvements to access with a new entrance; better climate control systems as well as a new lobby, orientation space and concourse.
Ronald L. Hurst, the Foundation’s Carlisle Humelsine chief curator and vice president for collections, conservation and museums, said in a statement, “Annual visitation to the Art Museums has been on the rise for several years, but that growth will accelerate with the creation of a more visible and guest-friendly entrance, expanded exhibition galleries and improved guest services.
“The expansion means the creation of dedicated gallery spaces for fine art, costumes, archaeological artifacts, weapons, numismatics and a host of other materials that are now too rarely seen.”
The development follows news last week that restructuring would lead to 40 jobs being cut.
Image: Colonial Williamsburg
https://wydaily.com/2017/01/13/colonial-williamsburg-foundation-seeks-city-approval-for-40-mil-museum-expansion/
