BOSTON (PRNewswire) – Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) announced today the MassArt Art Museum (MAAM), Boston’s new free contemporary art museum, will open in February 2020. Formerly known as the Bakalar & Paine Galleries, the space will reopen after extensive renovations with a new name, brand and expanded mission. The renovation of the 15,000 square-foot museum space is supported by MassArt’s $12.5 million UNBOUND capital campaign.
The MassArt Art Museum will continue the Galleries’ legacy of offering an accessible contemporary art experience for all, partnering with emerging and established artists to bring fresh, diverse perspectives to Boston. Renovations including a new front entrance and climate control systems will allow for year-round programming and enhanced visitor experience.
MAAM will also debut the Arne and Milly Glimcher Plaza, an outdoor space for programming beyond the walls of the museum. Additional facilities such as a gallery education studio, a state-of-the-art preparatory workshop, and curatorial offices will enable the Museum to better fulfill its mission.
“MassArt has a long-standing legacy of making an art and design education accessible to a diverse audience,” said MassArt President David Nelson. “MAAM offers us an opportunity to introduce contemporary art to some members of our community for the first time. I am deeply grateful to our generous donors who have shared our vision and helped us to create the Commonwealth’s free contemporary art museum. In this space we will be able to inspire the next generation of MassArt students and art enthusiasts, and encourage longtime art lovers to consider new artistic perspectives and practices.”
For its new brand, MAAM partnered with the Boston-based firm Moth Design and 43,000 Feet, a brand messaging and content firm.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is a public, independent institution that prepares artists, designers, and educators to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. Since 1873, MassArt has built a legacy of leadership as the first freestanding public college of art and design in the country, and the nation’s first art school to grant a degree. MassArt offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in art, design, and art education, taught by world-class faculty.
