Cultural Affairs Chairman Van Bramer Joins QMA to Break Ground on Expansion
On Tuesday, April 12th the Queens Museum of Art (QMA) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the commencement of the expansion project that will double the size of the institution, adding 50,000 square feet of new galleries, classrooms, public events spaces, a café and museum shop. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, and Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer joined QMA Executive Director Tom Finkelpearl, board members, funders, artists and community partners for a groundbreaking ceremony in honor of this important institutional step.
The $65 million project, expected to be completed by the end of 2013, also includes a new 220 foot long illuminated glass façade and entry plaza on the Grand Central Parkways side of the building, a new entrance and expanded outdoor space on the Flushing Meadows Corona Park side of the building, and a generous skylit atrium in between. The project, which gives the museum the entirety of the NYC Building - originally built as the city's official pavilion for the 1939 World's Fair ‑ is designed by Grimshaw Architects, with Ammann and Whitney. The museum had, until 2009, shared the building with the World's Fair Ice Rink, and the ceremony was held on the site of the rink, now a construction site.
"Today is great day for Queens and culture in New York City," said Council Member and Chairman of Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations Jimmy Van Bramer. "Queens Museum of Art is a beacon of inspiration that illustrates how much culture and the arts can positively impact our communities. I am thrilled to have participated in this groundbreaking moment for culture in New York City and I can't wait for the grand opening!"
"On behalf of the Board, the staff and most importantly the audience and participants at the Queens Museum, we are so grateful to everyone who made this project a reality," said Tom Finkelpearl, Executive Director of the Queens Museum of Art. "This has been a true public-private partnership with generous contributions from City, Borough, and State government, as well as dedicated and generous trustees and foundations. With their amazing support we will be able to double our size to present the Queens Museum's unique mix of experimental public programs, innovative shows, and education programs that are multi-faceted and multi-lingual."
"The Queens Museum of Art is a victim of its own success," said Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. "More than 250,000 visitors participate in their programs each year. Now, with additional space and more programs for students and families we expect even more people to come to this museum, where learning and art appreciation come together in a unique setting with a rich history. The more than $21.5 million from my discretionary funds to support the expansion are dollars well spent for future generations. I thank our partners in government, along with Tom Finklepearl and his hardworking staff, as well as Mr. Alan Suna and members of the board of directors for their dedication to this museum, which has become a jewel in the crown of our City's cultural institutions."