After campaigning for financial support, the Columbus Museum of Art received $3.75 million in government funding to pay for a new roof atop one of its buildings.
The total grant was a combination of $1.5 million from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, $1.25 million from the state of Ohio and $1 million from the city of Columbus, according to a June 3 press release from CMA. The money will be used to replace the Elizabeth M. and Richard M. Ross Building’s current aluminum roof — which was installed over 50 years ago — with a combination of flat-rubber roofing and copper standing seam metal, according to the CMA release.
“This collaborative investment underscores the importance of the museum as a cultural landmark and reinforces the shared commitment of state, city, and county leaders to preserving its historic edifices,” the CMA release states. “The public’s support of the roof construction complements the museum’s private fundraising in support of its facilities and operations.”
Built in 1931, the Ross Building is home to ten permanent collection galleries, which together showcase over 14,000 pieces of art. According to the CMA release, renovations will begin in the late summer and the rest of the museum will remain open to guests during that time.
“To all our visitors – please pardon the dust and noise as we embark on this vital project,” CMA executive director and CEO Brooke Minto said in the release. “We look forward to welcoming you to our refreshed Ross Building soon.”
The announcement of CMA’s successful funding initiative arrives near the 10th anniversary of its Margaret M. Walter Wing, which was named Best Architecture of 2015 by the Wall Street Journal. The CMA release states visitors can anticipate more innovation like this, including new exhibitions, artist collaborations and immersive activities “on the horizon.”
“The Columbus Museum of Art is at once a historic institution and a forward-thinking organization,” Minto said in the release. “As we celebrate nearly a century of the Ross Building, we are incredibly grateful for the support of our government partners, ensuring that this architectural gem remains a beacon for art lovers for generations to come. We thank the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and the State of Ohio for their investment in our mission and dedication to preserving one of our city’s most treasured cultural landmarks.”
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com, or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: CMA receives multimillion dollar grant from government for new roof