The New Museum in New York has announced a major $80 million capital campaign to double its physical footprint on the Bowery. The expansion will utilize an adjacent building already owned by the institution, increasing the total space from 58,000 to over 100,000 square feet. The museum has already secured $43 million of its goal, bolstered by a record-breaking undisclosed donation from longtime supporter Toby Devan Lewis.
This expansion marks a significant maturation for the institution as it approaches its 40th anniversary, tripling its endowment and allowing for more experimental programming. Despite a modest budget compared to uptown giants like MoMA, the New Museum has seen attendance skyrocket since 2007, and this project aims to provide a "counterpoint" to its iconic SANAA-designed tower while maintaining its identity as a non-collecting, nimble contemporary art space.