Bass Museum of Art to Close for Renovations

The Bass Museum of Art will be the next local museum to get a major makeover. The museum quickly outgrew its original space and in 2000 added an expansion to its historic 1934 building. But since the boom of Art Basel, attendance at the Bass has nearly doubled, and after receiving a $7.5 million grant from the City of Miami Beach for the sole purpose of expanding its physical space, the museum has now received all of the necessary approvals to begin its next expansion. 

The Bass announced that the new expansion will be designed by New York-based architect David Gauld, who is primarily known for eye-catching, modern houses. The museum's expansion will add 10,000 square feet to the existing space, including an additional five galleries.

The Real Deal reports the Bass' plans were approved by the Historic Preservation Board earlier this week. Executive director and chief curator Silvia Karman Cubiñá told the Real Deal that when the museum reopens, "attendees will be able to grab a coffee or a light lunch, or have a meeting before or after seeing some art and attend drop-in activities or classes. Museums... are no longer places just to go to see art and then walk out."

The Bass will close Sunday, May 17, and construction is slated to begin in August. The museum plans to remain closed for an entire year, though the nearby Miami Beach Regional Library will host some of the museum's collection and education programs. "One Way: Peter Marino," an exhibition the museum premiered during Art Basel, will be on view until closing day.