As the Springfield Art Museum prepares to shutter for three years of renovations, museum staff are packing up for a new, temporary location.
The art museum will conclude all programs and exhibitions on Sunday, Sept. 1, in preparation for renovations and new construction as part of the museum’s 2028 Campaign. Construction is set to begin in January and is expected to continue through 2027. The museum will reopen in time for its 11th anniversary in 2028.
While the main campus is under construction, a temporary arm of the art museum will be housed within the Wilhoit Building at 431 S. Jefferson Ave., where Green House Coffee + Affogato Bar was formerly located. Programs and classes will be open to the public in this new location starting the First Friday in February 2025, according to a news release.
“While some folks might assume we’re taking a three-year vacation, nothing could be further from the truth,” art museum director Nick Nelson said in a news release. “We have a number of activities lined up to keep the museum, the community, our dedicated patrons and visitors connected to and experiencing art as only the Springfield Art Museum can.”
Programs to be held by the art museum over the next three years include:
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“All School Exhibition”: Annual exhibition of Pre-K through 12th-grade artwork
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Art is Everywhere: Community-embedded, pop-up programming
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Collection Connections: Programs provided by Springfield-Greene County Library District and museum staff to keep the community engaged with the museum’s permanent collection
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Fifth-grade field trips: Museum educators will continue the long-standing partnership with Springfield Public Schools
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Hands-on art classes: The Wilhoit Building location will provide a classroom to ensure the continuation of all-age programming
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Interpretive programming: Artist talks, Slow Viewing experiences, take-home project bags will continue
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Missouri State University partnerships: Missouri State MFA candidates will continue to install their exhibitions with the museum and Missouri State Studies program students will still learn how to work with the museum’s collection
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“Watercolor USA”: The annual juried exhibition will be held at the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin for 2025
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Special events: “Art in Bloom” and “99 Times” will be held at different locations in Springfield
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Other community and university partnerships: Museum leadership is working with organizations like Abilities First, Downtown Springfield Association, Springfield Regional Arts Council and others to host cooperative programs and projects
More: Get your art fix before Sept. 1. Springfield Art Museum prepares for 3-year closure
As of Saturday, the art museum had raised nearly $38 million of its $50 million campaign goal, according to a news release.
Over two years, several parts of the site plan have been completed, including improvements to Fassnight Creek near the museum, a Greenway Trails connection to Fassnight Creek and improvements to the museum’s parking lot and amphitheater. Renovation of the museum’s education wing, west entry, galleries and back of house will be completed during the two-year closure period.
What are the final exhibitions at the art museum?
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“Breath, Light and Distance”
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“Watercolor USA 2024”
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“Works by Bradi Barth”
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“Works by Glenna Goodacre”
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“Renaissance Works on Parchment and Paper”
If you would like to receive updates about the 2028 Campaign, the city of Springfield is offering email updates to community members. To sign up, visit the City of Springfield website and complete the Notify Me form.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has more than five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozarks history to Springfield’s LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Art Museum announces temporary location during renovations
