Gibbes Museum of Art Renovations Effect Museum Mile Attendance
January 26, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – The October 2014 closure of the Gibbes Museum of Art for major renovations and restoration has prevented the museum from participating in this year’s Museum Mile alongside the eleven other cultural institutions and organizations that make up the Mile. This resulted in a 4% negative impact on overall attendance for this year compared to last year. Charleston Museum Executive Director Carl Borick noted that due to the Gibbes closure for renovations, Museum Mile had only a 1% attendance increase this year. When the Gibbes was factored out for comparison purposes, the data showed an increase for the year of 5% for the remaining organization. “We are proud of the continued success of Museum Mile and appreciate everyone’s tremendous support and patience during our renovations. We look forward to having an even greater impact on attendance figures when we reopen in spring 2016,” says Gibbes Executive Director Angela Mack.
During the renovations the Gibbes will continue to engage the public with a variety of programs, events, and classes. Gibbes on the Go has been tremendously successful to date, and we have a full slate of events scheduled for the spring including the annual Art of Design luncheon featuring Hamish Bowles, International Editor at Large, Vogue magazine on March 13, and the notorious Street Party on May 7.
About Gibbes Museum of Art
Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. In the fall of 2014,the Gibbes temporarily closed for major renovations and will reopen its doors in the spring of 2016. The renovation project is designed to showcase the museum’s collection, provide visitors with a history of American art from the early colonial era to the present, and engage the public with a center for education, artist studios, lecture and event space, a museum café, and store. During the renovation the museum will offer programs such as the Insider Art Series, Art with a Twist, Art of Healing, events including the Art of Design and annual Gibbes on the Street Party, and educational offerings such as Art to Go and Eye Spy Art. Highlights of the Gibbes permanent collection can be viewed on Google Art Project at www.googleartproject.com.
