UTICA — Munson has received a $1 million grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support upgrades at its Museum of Art, the organization announced. The grant is part of a capital-project funding announcement by NYSCA totaling more than $86 million for 134 capital projects around the state. The grant […]
UTICA — Munson has received a $1 million grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support upgrades at its Museum of Art, the organization announced.
The grant is part of a capital-project funding announcement by NYSCA totaling more than $86 million for 134 capital projects around the state.
The grant award is the largest in Munson’s 100-year history, Munson President/CEO Anna D’Ambrosio said in the announcement.
“It will help enable dynamic interior updates to the museum, enhancing community access and attracting audiences from across New York and beyond,” D’Ambrosio said. “Projects of this scale wouldn’t be possible without support from New York State and our community. These improvements will help us strengthen tourism, drive economic growth, and enrich educational experiences in Central New York.”
Improvements at Munson will include a new Art Odyssey interactive family gallery, an expanded museum shop, improved visitor amenities, and other accessibility updates that are already in progress.
“Our popular educational space, Art Odyssey, will move upstairs to the main floor with new interactive experiences for visitors of all ages to enjoy,” Museum Art Director and Chief Curator Stephen Harrison said. “A visit to the art museum should not only be meaningful but also fun!”
The Museum of Art, designed by Philip Johnson and built in 1960, is both a state and federal historic landmark. The building houses Munson’s art collection, provides educational programming for thousands of regional youth, and serves as a venue for community events and performing-arts concerts.
The state grant will help ensure Munson remains a cultural hub for generations to come. The organization is actively pursuing additional support from public and private sources to support the renovation project, which Munson is in the process of refining in terms of scope.
“With support from NYSCA and contributions from the community, Munson will update essential building systems and program areas, maintaining the museum’s architectural beauty while improving accessibility,” Board Chair F.X. Matt III said.
Munson is a fine-arts organization that includes the Munson Museum of Art and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, which is an extension of Pratt Institute.
