The Bronx Museum of the Arts is gearing up for an expansion, looking to extend their offer within a new South Wing Atrium.

This week, the New York City Development Corporation (NYCEDC) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Bronx Museum, looking for an architect to undertake the design. 

According to the RFP, the scope of work would include the construction of a new South Wing Atrium and main entrance located on the corner of Grand Concourse and 165th Street. The new wing would house a spacious lobby with seating, gathering spaces, and large street-facing walls for artwork. The goal, the RFP communicates, is to improve the museum's curb appeal. Officials hope the extension will entice new patrons to enter and better connect the museum with the community through exterior and interior artwork, much of which would be visible from the street.

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 “New York City’s arts and cultural institutions are the fabric of our city,” said Rachel Loeb, NYCEDC president and CEO. “This project represents our commitment to investing and enhancing in cultural spaces across the city. We are proud to partner with the Department of Cultural Affairs and The Bronx Museum of the Arts to facilitate the design and construction of a new arts space for all New Yorkers.”

“The Bronx Museum of the Arts’ Board of Trustees and Staff are excited about this new phase in the life of the museum,” said The Bronx Museum of the Arts Executive Director Klaudio Rodriguez. “As we celebrate our 50th anniversary and look towards the next 50; this project presents a unique opportunity to envision and realize what a 21st century, community-based, globe-spanning museum should be. The renovation will strengthen our capacity to meet our community’s needs, by amplifying our ability to educate, engage and accommodate our visitors. The project will simultaneously reflect our values and priorities, including our commitments to accessibility, equity, and transparency.”

The Bronx Museum of the Arts is one of the only major New York City museums with free admission. The museum’s permanent collection of more than 2,000 works preserves and documents artists who are not typically represented within traditional museum collections by showcasing work by artists of African, Asian, and Latin American ancestry, as well as artists for whom The Bronx has been critical to their development.