City grants $ 26.4 million to complete Queens Museum expansion project – QNS.com

The city has allocated $ 26.4 million to complete the expansion of the Queens Museum at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

The project will create an art and culture-focused children’s museum space in Queens, expand the museum’s classrooms, provide secure storage of artwork, and improve the energy efficiency of the facility.

“As we begin to look beyond the economic, social and health crisis of COVID, perhaps no better investment can be made than investing in our local cultural infrastructure, to raise morale, to support people. families, revitalize our economy and show our faith in the future of New York City and New Yorkers, “said Queens Museum President and CEO Sally Tallant.” We couldn’t be more grateful to the Blasio administration for sharing this vision with us; together we will create a multilingual and intergenerational arts and culture learning center – a Queens Children’s Museum – as part of the completion of the Queens Museum. “

The mayor announced the funding on Wednesday, September 22 as part of his City Hall in Your Borough program in Queens.

He visited the Queens Museum in March to celebrate community initiatives being implemented to support the growth and recovery of arts and cultural institutions across the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Queens Museum is a world class institution, and this funding will help them grow and develop their footprint in Queens and across the city,” said de Blasio. “Arts and culture are not only the key to our recovery from COVID-19, they are the key to nurturing the talent, curiosity and creativity that will make New York City the most vibrant city in the world. “

Throughout the pandemic, the Queens Museum has remained connected and engaged with some of the hardest hit communities through a variety of hyperlocal initiatives. Since June 2020, the museum has managed a cultural pantry in partnership with La Jornada to fight against food insecurity.

With the support of over 70 volunteers, he distributed fresh, non-perishable food items to over 30,000 families in Corona. The museum has also helped artisans in Queens stay resilient by launching Hecho Local, a series of free product development workshops for Spanish-speaking artisans who have helped them create a sustainable business model.

“For nearly 50 years, the Queens Museum has been a vital cultural institution in our borough, and with recent local initiatives like the Cultural Food Pantry and the Hecho Local product development workshop, perhaps even more so during the pandemic of COVID-19, ”City Councilor Jimmy Van Bramer said. “With the addition of new classrooms and a multilingual family art lab, among other enhancements, this funding will ensure that the Queens Museum remains an essential part of serving our diverse communities for generations to come.” “

In 2013, the Queens Museum completed the first phase of its expansion project, providing an additional 50,000 square feet of galleries, event spaces, educational spaces and visitor amenities.

The second and final phase includes the new classrooms that will allow the museum to accommodate additional school trips and educational programs.

“As President of the Borough of Queens and the father of a young child, I couldn’t be happier to have worked with our partners to transform the Queens Museum’s long-held dream of a dedicated space for children. of our borough in reality, ”said the president of the borough of Queens. said Donovan Richards. “From its Queens Museum, the first of its kind for children, to the many other enhancements that this vital funding will support, the Queens Museum will see its already enormous legacy continue to grow in the years to come.”