Queens Museum to construct Children’s Museum with new funding

The Queens Museum is moving forward with a major expansion and funding from the city. Photo by Leo Chiou/Wikimedia Commons

By Rachel Vick

The Queens Museum is getting a multi-million dollar funding boost to support upgrades and the creation of a new Children’s Museum, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday.

De Blasio, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, City Council, and Queens Borough President’s Office announced $26.4 million for the museum to complete the ongoing expansion.

“As we begin to look past the economic, social and health crisis of COVID, perhaps no better investment can be made than investment in our local cultural infrastructure — to elevate spirits, support families, revitalize our economy and showcase our faith in the future of the city of New York and in New Yorkers,” said Sally Tallant, the president and executive director of the Queens Museum.

“We could not be more grateful to the de Blasio administration for sharing this vision with us,” Tallant said. “Together, we will deliver a multilingual, intergenerational arts and culture learning center - a Queens Children's Museum - as a part of the completion of the Queens Museum.”

Child-centered construction in phase two is expected to include educational classroom and workshop areas on two floors and a 5,500 square foot intergenerational, multilingual Family Art Lab.

Operational expansions include a 2,600 square foot art storage vault and back of house spaces including offices, exhibition prep spaces, an artwork conservation and study area.

Plans to improve the building’s sustainability include the reconstruction of the southern wall and window system and the upgrade of the heating and cooling system to support energy efficiency and lower costs.

“The Queens Museum’s an amazing place — this gives it the tools and the resources it needs to truly cement its reputation as a world-class museum and to continue its work as an anchor of the community,” de Blasio said. “Arts and culture are not just the key to our recovery from COVID-19 – they are the key to nurturing the talent, curiosity, and creativity that will keep New York City the most vibrant city in the world.”