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An expanded art museum will provide a site worthy of the permanent collection, which has doubled in size since 1982. The types of special exhibitions that can be presented is limited by the current space. New galleries would allow for the display of larger works of art. A bigger museum means school groups, as well as other community organizations, can be offered new and enlarged educational opportunities with tours, lectures and classes.
Free
parking in the lot directly across the street is currently available
on Thursday evenings and on the weekends when most community members
have time to visit the museum. There are plans to expand the number
of public parking spaces in the parking ramp located behind Bessey
Hall near the Administration Building, which is only 1 1/2 blocks
from the museum. Additional public parking during the day can
also be found in the Shaw Lane ramp, Wharton Center Ramp to the
south, and City of East Lansing parking lots and garages, which
are about a 10-minute walk. It will more than triple its size enabling it to display more pieces from its collection and accommodate its needs. It will be able to offer better arts educational programs and expand culture experiences for school groups and adults in the Mid-Michigan area, contributing to the quality of life and well being of the community. It will be a visually stunning building on the MSU campus, a facility the entire community can be proud of. Receptions and social events could be held in the spectacular 3000 square foot entrance foyer. It will provide a dramatic setting with its 1 ½-story atrium, huge glass wall, supporting piers arching overhead and promenade sweeping to the second floor galleries. The expansion will increase the size of the museum from 10,000 to 42,000 square feet and will enhance the existing landscape and become a strong presence on campus.
One of the art museum’s goals is to serve area school districts by providing educational programs and guided tours. Exposure to arts education has become increasingly difficult for some districts given the deep budget cuts school districts have faced in recent years. Kresge provides grade-appropriate theme tours for students in K-12 along with specialized Arts in the Humanities tours for students in grades 6-12. A weeklong summer school program is offered for students in grades 4-6. Hands-on art activities are offered to students of all ages at the East Lansing Arts Fair as well as other times through out the year at the museum.
A major difference is that art galleries exhibit and sell works of art whereas museums collect, conserve, exhibit and interpret works of art. Kresge is the only accredited art museum in mid-Michigan and one of only 21 accredited museums in the state.
The expansion of Kresge Art Museum will be funded by contributions of individual donors, companies, and foundations. Most capital projects at Michigan State University combine funding from many sources, including private individuals. In light of the current budget situation, neither the university nor the state will have funds for a capital project of this nature. The university supports the Campaign for a Better Art Museum and has hired a Development Officer, Mark Terman, to help raise funds for the expansion. Contributing to the expansion is one way the community, businesses, foundations, and individuals can help provide better arts education and cultural experiences for all of Mid-Michigan.
The expansion will increase the size of the museum from 10,000 to 42,000 square feet and will enhance the existing landscape and become a strong presence on campus. It will include 2 phases: The first phase will feature a new and dramatic entrance and a two storied, glass-walled lobby creating a curved promenade connecting the upper and lower galleries. It will include a sculpture garden and rotating special exhibition gallery. Existing space will be remodeled to include a works on paper gallery, a discovery gallery, a roof sculpture garden, gift store, classroom, administration space and storage. The second phase will add galleries and outdoor terraces facing the Red Cedar River. Successful fund raising will allow the entire project to be completed at one time. The architect is Kara Hill from Hammel Green and Abrahamson (HGA), an architectural firm based in Minneapolis in collaboration with Duce Simmons Associates (DSA) from Troy, Michigan. HGA specializes in evaluating, planning and designing museums, performing art centers and other cultural facilities. Examples of its projects include the Minnesota Historical Center, additions and renovations of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. HGA was prime Architect for the Discovery Center project at the National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, D.C. Their web site is http://www.hga.com.
It is likely that the museum will close for a period of time during construction. This will be decided once the architect is hired and the schedule is set. In preparation, the museum staff is exploring alternate exhibition sites, outdoor installations and expanded outreach activities to take place in the community.
Donations can be made online at Kresge Art Museum Facilities Fund or can be mailed to the museum. Please make your check payable to Michigan State University and mail it to: Kresge
Art Museum Facilities Fund For additional information about donating and naming opportunities please contact: Susan
J. Bandes, Director, Kresge Art Museum Mark
Terman, Director of Development for Special Projects, University
Development
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