Speed Art Museum speeds forward with reopening

Despite the wind and chilly breeze Wednesday, the Speed Art Museum delivered good news to the community. In a press conference held at the top floor of the Speed Parking Garage, Speed Art Museum’s Director Ghislain d’Humieres announced the grand reopening date of the building.

The museum, along with its newly built extension, will open its doors to the public on March 12, 2016.

“The new Speed will be an inclusive and welcoming environment that will engage visitors of all ages in conversations with each other and with the works of art,” d’Humieres stated. Later in the press conference, he detailed that the opening weekend for the museum will keep the establishment open for 30 straight hours after its opening ceremony at 10 a.m.

“We want the community to have unprecedented access to the museum after our three-year closure.”

The gathered press audience and donors to the museum reacted enthusiastically to this news, despite being outside on the fourth floor of the museum’s parking garage on a below freezing day.

The news of the museum reopening was not the only the announcement. Both d’Humieres and Board of Trustees Chairman Bruce Merrick unveiled a public fundraising event.

Called “Speed 365,” the campaign will be a year-long event centered on advertising the museum to the public, along with educational outreach programs.

“It will also provide infrastructure for a re-imagined interactive Art Sparks,” said Merrick, “A dynamic learning space for the young and old alike, as well as support for an increased number of regional, national and international exhibitions and funding for our first-rate film program in the new state-of-the-art cinema.”

“Speed 365” is a $2.5 million campaign and is only one of many programs to bring construction ahead of schedule to fit a March 2016 reopening.

Once reopened, the newly constructed North Building will be primarily transparent from the outside and almost double the size of the museum in whole. New exhibition halls, gallery rooms, family education and welcome center, café, shop, and pavilion for live performances and lectures are in store for the community, along with a sculpture garden featured by the Elizabeth P. and Frederick K. Cressman Art Park and public Piazza.

“As the exterior of the building takes shape,” Merrick stated, “it’s time to start thinking about what’s happening inside – the changes that will let you experience the Museum in a whole new way.”

To contribute to “Speed 365,” the public can donate at the campaign’s website or text “Speed 365” to 20222. Texting will automatically provide a $10 donation to the campaign.