Art museum prepares for massive renovation project

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Time is winding down if you want to visit the Springfield Art Museum. The facility’s last day of business before closing for a three-year renovation is September 1st.

The current facility will be rebuilt and modernized inside and out during the closure. Plans call for a massive construction project to add additional exhibit space. There will also be a park-like setting surrounding the property, incorporating the nearby Fassnight Creek.

Nick Nelson, the art museum’s director, says staff will be working in the coming weeks to remove and store artwork out of the construction area. With 10,000 pieces in the permanent collection, it won’t be an easy or quick task.

‘Of course, when you move art it is very smart to do it carefully and take your time. We don’t want to drop something, Nelson said. “So, care and caution are the keys.”

The project is set to be done in 2028, the museum’s 100th anniversary.

The facility is planning a final open house before the closure.  That event is set for Saturday, August 24th, beginning at 2:00 pm. At that time, the museum will announce where a temporary exhibit will be set up and located for the duration of the construction project.

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