The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. The Museum in Washington, D.C., will close on August 9 ahead of a major restoration effort on its historic building at 1250 New York Avenue, NW, a few blocks east of the White House. The construction work is set to start on September 1 and will be carried on for 2 years. During its closure, the gallery will hold Virtual exhibitions, programs and events.
The restoration will be overseen by Baltimore-based architectural firm Sandra Vicchio & Associates and will be the first major renovation for the building since 1987. The total budget for the restoration is set at $66 Million. The refurbishment will comprise of larger gallery spaces, a new space for educational and research programs, improved infrastructure and storage facilities, and more. The effort is the result of a 2015 assessment of the museum’s building, which dates to 1908.
Because the building is a Classical Revival structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, upkeep for the museum’s roof, cornice, and other exterior features will be undertaken in accordance with the D.C. Historic Preservation Office. Other priorities for the restoration include improving ADA accessibility for visitors, creating an orientation gallery for the museum’s Great Hall, and upgrading wireless and touchscreen technologies in galleries.
The renovation was spearheaded by the late Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, who founded the museum alongside her husband, Wallace, more than 30 years ago. Wilhelmina Holladay, who died in March at age 98, bought the building in 1983. It was later expanded with the purchase of a neighboring 5,300-square-foot property, which eventually became the Elisabeth A. Kasser Wing. The wing opened in 1997, bringing the museum’s total footprint to more than 84,000 square feet.
In a statement, NMWA director Susan Fisher Sterling said, “This renovation will ensure that the museum continues to promote the contributions of women artists in ways that engage audiences and advocates of tomorrow.”
Architect Sandra Vicchio added in a release, “To protect the collection and enable NMWA to educate and engage the world more effectively, we must upgrade the building’s envelope, improve the performance of its systems, and make better use of its interior space. Revitalizing the building is all about positioning the museum for a triumphant future.”
