Richmond Art Museum closing for renovations

Work is about to get underway for a major renovation project at the Richmond Art Museum, bringing about a temporary closure that will last into next year.

The museum will close its doors at Richmond High School's McGuire Hall on Thursday and isn't expected to open them again until Feb. 1, but that doesn't mean RAM's events, classes and exhibits are going on hiatus.

While renovations are underway on the galleries, the museum will move some of its programs offsite and part of its permanent collection will remain on display. You just might have to go on a bit of a scavenger hunt to find it.

"We've placed part of the permanent collection on loan throughout the county," said Shaun Dingwerth, RAM's executive director.

Among those who have taken in some of the museum's collection are Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond and the libraries in Cambridge City and Centerville, as well as the Huddleston Farmhouse in Cambridge City.

The majority of the more than 2,200 works of art that make up the collection will be stored in a climate-controlled room that's not part of the renovations.

"It's been nice to have these partners," Dingwerth said. "It's still an opportunity for the community to see the collection."

The classes offered by RAM will continue, using a combination of classrooms at the high school and IU East's Room 912 space in downtown Richmond.

Dingwerth said museum staff is looking for an offsite location for its annual exhibition as well as its holiday art mart.

"We're looking for an alternative space, a pop-up space if you will," he said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to have an announcement on that soon."

The museum office is moving to RHS' Room R124 to the right of the school's main entrance.

The renovations were made possible by a capital campaign that has raised more than $1.6 million, Dingwerth said. The silent phase of the fundraising drive had been underway for about two years before RAM staff went public with their plans last fall.

"We're actually kind of winding down (the campaign), but we're still obviously looking for donations," Dingwerth said.

The major piece of the renovations is the installation of a new climate control system. Other improvements include fire suppression, lighting, new wall surfaces, painting and new signage.

"What this will enable us to do is to maintain a museum environment that will allow us to not only care for our permanent collection but enable us to borrow from other institutions," Dingwerth said.

The museum's famous "Harry Potter"-style bathrooms, which are original to McGuire Hall, also will get some attention to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The project isn't expected to disrupt summer school classes or be a problem once the new year begins in August. 

"We will be working with our partners at RCS to make sure the renovation is compatible with the learning that's going on in the building," Dingwerth said.

There's no final price tag for the work yet, but according to Dingwerth, it won't exceed the money raised through the capital campaign.

He's excited for the changes to come and how they will affect those who enjoy the museum.

"Everything that we're trying to do is to enhance the user experience," Dingwerth said.