Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission Approves $1,000,000 for Akron Art Museum

Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission approved $1,000,000 at its quarterly meeting today for the Akron Art Museum expansion.

The expansion project adds 63,000 square feet to the existing 84-year-old museum, increasing its size to 83,000 square feet. The dynamic, soaring structure is adjacent to the existing museum, which is housed in a former post office building dating back to 1899. The project more than doubles gallery space from 8,000 square feet to approximately 20,000 square feet. This allows greater display of the museum's important paintings and sculpture from the permanent collection, as well as selections from its distinguished photography holdings. The expansion also provides a number of exciting amenities long-requested by museum visitors, such as an auditorium, a classroom, a children's gallery, a museum store and café.

A grand reopening for the Akron Art Museum is scheduled for July 15, 2007. The state has made seven appropriations for the project, totaling more than $8.7 million.

The Commission approval, coupled with the signing of legal agreements, allows the Akron Art Museum to be reimbursed on a pro rata basis with funds appropriated in Am. Sub. H.B. 699 of the 126^th General Assembly. Summit County members of the 126^th General Assembly who voted in favor of the bill include Senators Kevin Coughlin and Kimberly Zurz, and Representatives Robert Otterman, Barbara Sykes, John Widowfield and Brian G. Williams.

The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that helps enhance the quality of life for Ohioans by improving the state’s cultural facilities. Since 1988, the Commission has disbursed nearly $400 million of capital funds appropriated by the legislature and Governor for facility improvement projects at non-profit theaters, museums, historical sites and publicly owned professional sports venues.

The Commission partners with non-profit groups and local governments on nearly 250 projects in 65 of Ohio’s 88 counties. For more information on the Commission, visit www.culture.ohio.gov.

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