Art Museum gets $5M grant from Corbett administration

The Philadelphia Museum of Art received a $5-million grant from Gov. Tom Corbett's administration that will go toward the renovation of the museum’s main building.

The grant, announced by Susan Corbett on Thursday during a press conference, is one of the economic growth initiative grants awarded by the Corbett administration's redevelopment assistance capital program. It will go toward the museum’s $350-million renovation, designed by architect Frank Gehry, which will add more than 169,000 square feet of space, including a redesign of the "Rocky" steps.

The grant will go toward addressing building system repairs and upgrades, energy efficiency improvements, fire and life safety system investments, and work required to keep the museum in compliance with safety codes.

"Upgrading the building and making it more attractive and easier to use is a really important thing to do for Philadelphia," said Timothy Rub, director and CEO of the museum.

Furthermore, Rub said: "We are hiding our light under a bushel. We have one of the great collections, not only in this country, but in the world. More of it deserves to be seen, so the project addresses that need as well.

Renovations for the building are expected to take more than four years, and will come in several phases. This phase, called the “core project,” is expected to cost up to $160 million overall.

"An investment in the museum is ultimately an investment in the local and regional economy," said Constance Williams, chair of the board of trustees of the museum. "The work of the museum creates jobs. For every position at the museum, four jobs are created across the region, supporting over 33,000 full-time equivalent jobs each year."

Furthermore, Williams said: "This investment is more than just an investment in the building upgrade. I believe it is also an investment in people to visit us ... We want people to come to the museum, not just run up the stairs."

As for when the museum anticipates on completing the project, Rub says he has the year 2028 in mind, to coincide with the museum's 100th anniversary.

"I would really like to be able say, 'It's all ready to go for it's next century. We're there, we've done a great job as stewards of a great institution. Take it away,' " Rub said.

Earlier this year, the state received grant requests for 285 projects, totaling more than $1 billion. Applicants include Hawthorne Hall, Fox Chase Cancer Center and Penn Treaty Village.

The redevelopment assistance capital program, under Corbett's budget office, is a grant program for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.

Corbett reformed the state's method of funding the program in 2012, making the process more transparent and objective. Project selections are now based on job creation potential, economic impact, and their viability and construction readiness.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal