Take a look inside Columbus Museum’s ‘transformative change’ after $25 million renovation
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It’s the same location and the same size — and admission still is free — but when the 71-year-old Columbus Museum reopens to the public next month folks will see essentially a new facility.
Sure, the museum still displays American art and regional culture and history, but it’s done in different ways in a revamped building with additional amenities as part of its $25 million renovation.
“We reconceived pretty much everything from top to bottom,” museum director Marianne Richter told the Ledger-Enquirer. “… It really is a transformative change. … It’s going to be a completely different feel.”
Kristen Hudson, the museum’s marketing and public relations director, described the reaction she hopes folks will have when they see the renovation for the first time.
“I want them to go, ‘Wow! Where do I start?’ Now, when you walk in, rather than having a dark, closed-off lobby, … you see everything from that front entrance,” she told the L-E.
And when they leave after that visit, Hudson said, “I want them to think, ‘Wow! I can’t believe I found all of that in Columbus, Georgia.’ … For a city of our size, I mean, it’s really an outstanding gem for us to have right here.”
More space
The project’s architect is Chicago-based Perkins & Will, which has an office in Atlanta, and the contractor is Freeman & Associates of Columbus.
Although the museum, which has been closed for about 18 months during the work, still totals 89,000 square feet on three floors, the renovation reconfigured interior walls to increase natural light and create about 25% more useable space. That produced:
302 more linear feet for the art galleries
420 more square feet for the children’s gallery
1,079 more square feet for the history galleries.
“We look more like a 21st century contemporary museum,” Richter said. “Open sight lines are a very contemporary feel. The whole look is more that this is a museum of now, and that I think will be more welcoming to people.”
The art installation is done thematically instead of chronologically. The history galleries also use more themes in their displays than the previous version of the museum.
“That should be accessible and interesting for people,” Richter said.
New spaces
The interactive children’s gallery, with a garden added for that age group, has been moved from the basement to the ground floor, adjacent to the main entrance.
A courtyard and grab-and-go café are new amenities, and the Bradley Olmstead Garden has been restored to boost the beauty of the museum’s grounds.
Two orientation galleries will help visitors understand what the museum offers and where to go.
A connecting gallery between the history section and the art collection will have a topical exhibition, starting with artists from Columbus.
New amenities
The building is more accessible for disabled visitors. The addition of the café and seating areas such as the courtyard and children’s garden provide more spaces to relax.
“It’s a community museum,” Hudson said. “… We want them to feel a stake in this as their home and part of their backyards, especially with the museum being free. … It’s a place where people can really come and gather as cultural hub.”
Family restrooms and a wellness room also have been added. The gift shop is larger.
“We really worked on making visitor amenities better and making it easier to find things,” Richter said. “… It really is a more welcoming feel. A lot of people find museums intimidating, particularly if they’re not used to them. They don’t know what to expect.
“So one of our goals is to take some of that mystery away and make it a more accessible experience for everybody. This museum exists for the community, and so it’s got to be something the community wants to come see.”
New programs
The museum will increase the number of summer camps for ages 4-11 it offers.
While programs such as Family Saturdays, Artful Babies and Mini Makers will continue, the museum will offer new programs for families, including Tuesdays at 10 (an interactive creativity hour featuring a different activity each week throughout the summer), Gallery Play Dates, Storytime and Art Making.
For adults, the Third Thursdays social event, with music, a cash bar and gallery experiences, will return.
For all ages, docent-led tours and Lunch & Learns, will continue, and a new lifelong learning program will launch.
The museum plans to use the restored Bradley Olmstead Garden and overlook terrace for addition programming.
And for members, the museum plans to offer more previews, receptions, bus trips and artist talks.
“Whether it’s your first time in the museum or your millionth time to the museum, we really want to make sure we’ve got experiences for everyone and people of all ages,” Hudson said.
New acquisitions
The museum’s reopening will allow visitors to see several new acquisitions, including works by artists Nick Cave, John Singleton Copley, Jacob Lawrence and Charles Bird King.
Special exhibitions
As part of the museum’s reopening celebration, special exhibitions include works by artists Columbus natives Amy Sherald and Alma Thomas, as well as Andy Warhol, Elaine de Kooning and John Singer Sargent.
Reopening events
The ticketed April 26 gala is sold out, but the grand reopening weekend May 4 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and May 5 (1-5 p.m.) is free and open to the public.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony May 4 is expected to run from 10-10:30 a.m. The rest of that day, the museum will conduct various activities, such as a scavenger hunt, collaborative art-making, performances from local ensembles and a “silent disco” dance party. During a silent disco, the guests wear headphones to listen to the music they choose while dancing with other folks.
The museum also will conduct preview events for members:
April 28, 1-5 p.m., Member Family Day
May 2, 4-8 p.m., Member Preview Night
Funding for the renovation
Most of the money for the museum’s $25 million renovation came from a private fundraising campaign.
The renovation originally was expected to cost $20 million. But inflation, especially a rise in construction prices, challenged the fundraisers to increase the goal — and they surpassed it.
Richter praised the efforts of campaign co-chairs Kathelen Amos and Elizabeth Ogie, as well as honorary chairs Thornton Jordan and Elizabeth Corn.
“This community is remarkable in its generosity,” she said. “… Everybody was so supportive and enthusiastic. It really has been incredible to see.”
Because the Muscogee County School District owns the museum, revenue from the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is allowed to be used for the museum’s capital needs. So $3 million in ESPLOST revenue was used for this project.
Hours of operation
Following the grand reopening weekend May 4-5, the museum will return to its regular hours of operation:
Mondays – closed
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursdays – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sundays – 1-5 p.m.
