Meeting of the Board of Regents | January 2009

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

Planning of the Museum Gallery renewal, scheduled to open in 2010, is nearing completion. Designs for  Empire State: America Begins in New York and Changes: A Billion Years of the Natural History of New York have been completed significant progress has been made on the design of the completion of the existing gallery Native Peoples of New York .

At your meeting we will update you on activities related to this project and on progress toward the new collection stewardship facility.

Reason(s) for Consideration

Endorsement of the overall direction and scope of the Museum gallery renewal and stewardship facility.

Proposed Handling

The Regents Cultural Education Committee will oversee the renewal of the Museum galleries and report periodically to the Full Board. The Committee will also make recommendations on the renewal of the Museum to the Cultural Education Fund Board of Trustees.

Background Information

The 2006-07 budget included $20 million to make the collections of the Museum, Archives, and Library more accessible. The 2008-2009 budget instead made the funds available as a mix of capital ($15 million) and CE Fund ($5 million). The proposed galleries will utilize our collections to tell a rich narrative about New York. The 2007-2008 also made $60 million in capital funding available for construction of a new collection stewardship facility.

The legislation authorizing project funding also called for the establishment of a Cultural Education Trust to oversee the renewal and the development of a new stewardship facility.  The Board has met and approved the gallery renewal plans developed by museum staff working with Gallagher and Associates. The Board also recommended additional evaluation of proposed sites for the collection facility.

Recommendation

Recommend endorsement of the overall direction and scope of the Museum gallery renewals and stewardship facility plan.