GOVERNOR SPITZER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATERSON BREAK GROUND ON NEW FACILITY FOR THE MUSEUM FOR AFRICAN ART
Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson today joined Congressman Charles Rangel and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to break ground at the site of a new permanent facility for the Museum for African Art. The Governor announced today that he is proposing $12 million in funding for the building of the new museum facility over the next three years.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson today joined Congressman Charles Rangel and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to break ground at the site of a new permanent facility for the Museum for African Art. The Governor announced today that he is proposing $12 million in funding for the building of the new museum facility over the next three years. The Governor will propose funding for the project in next year's budget. The City of New York has also offered an equal amount of funding for the project.
“For more than 20 years, the Museum for African Art has been a fixture of New York’s cultural landscape, but has not had a fixed address where they could display their collection,” said Governor Spitzer. “A permanent home for the museum is tribute to the contribution of African society on our collective culture.”
Lieutenant Governor David Paterson said: As part of New York’s rich cultural heritage, the Museum for African Art will make a welcome and valuable addition to the Museum Mile. We are proud that this will be the only independent museum in the United States dedicated solely to African Art, providing a powerful link between the neighboring Harlem community and the rest of the city. The Museum will do much more than join neighborhoods. It will also provide a striking glimpse into African culture for those who may not be familiar with it. It will create new economic incentives for businesses, and vendors in the area, and it will open a wider educational vista for the children of this city to learn more about different cultures.
Elsie McCabe, Executive Director of the Museum said: “After 23 years of nomadic travel, we are delighted to finally break ground on our new building in a wonderful community that is as diverse as our audience -- the symbolic cultural crossroads of our City. We are grateful to the Governor, the Mayor, the Council and the Manhattan Borough President for their invaluable support.”
Pat Foye, Downstate Chairman of Empire State Development, said: “The arts are an important economic development force of the New York City economy. This worthy project will create a permanent home for a mainstay of the city's culture, provide yet another reason for tourists to visit Museum Mile and add housing and jobs.”
The plans for the $80 million facility were announced in February. It is projected to create 150 new full time jobs and 240 construction jobs.
The Museum for African Art currently stores all of its exhibits in Long Island City. Since it was founded in 1984, the Museum has displayed its collection at rented spaces around New York City.
The Museum will be located on Fifth Avenue at 110th Street along New York City’s renowned Museum Mile. It will represent the first addition to that world-famous thoroughfare in 50 years. The new site will have a total of 85,000 square feet of exhibition space. It will also contain an interactive education center, a 210-seat theatre, a cafe/restaurant, a gift shop, and a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled art storage and conservation facility. The site will additionally include 116 new housing units financed by a private developer.
The Museum’s Education Department will teach individuals of all ages and backgrounds about the subjects of African art and culture. The School Tours Program will also bring students from across the metropolitan area to the Museum for tours and activities.
The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2009.
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