A world famous museum is in for a major £415million boost as it undergoes a huge upgrade. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is due to reopen its Michael C. Rockefeller Wing – a dedicated space for displaying art from Africa, Oceania and the ancient Americas – on May 31 after a complete redesign and renovation. In addition, the institution is building a new wing for modern and contemporary pieces, which is set to open in 2030. The two schemes cost $70million and $550million respectively – £467million in total.
It comes as officials reported last year that museum attendance rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic, as its two locations welcomed more than 5.5million visitors. The new section is designed by Frida Escobedo, the first woman to design a wing in the museum’s 154-year history, and it’s expected to add nearly 50% more exhibition space. In December, the concept art of the new contemporary art wing was revealed.
Bosses say it will create “a dynamic new home for The Met’s renowned collection of 20th and 21st century art”.
The project will create more than 70,000 square feet for the display of modern and contemporary art, while “addressing accessibility, infrastructure, and sustainability needs across all floors and providing a wing that seamlessly connects with the rest of the museum”.
The Met added: “Drawing inspiration from The Met’s varied architectural styles, diverse art holdings, and setting within Central Park, the Tang Wing will add to the Museum’s rich history of advancing thoughtful, bold, and visionary architecture that is itself a work of art.”
New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams said at the end of last year: “The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the crown jewels of New York City, an iconic cultural landmark representing New Yorkers to the rest of the world.
“By showcasing works of art created by new and established artists from all walks of life, the Tang Wing is a bold endeavor to expand our understanding of the role of art in New York’s culture and our society.”