MassArt’s contemporary art museum to open in February 2020

The Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston plans to open what it’s calling the MassArt Art Museum—or MAAM—in February 2020.

The museum—which MassArt says will be a free contemporary venue as much for education as for exhibitions—will supplant the Bakalar & Paine Galleries at 621 Huntington Avenue. Renovations to the 15,000-square-foot space in a 1906 building on MassArt’s campus are underway.

Dimeo Construction and designLAB Architects are leading the renovations, according to MassArt. The most noticeable change will be a new front entrance on Huntington Avenue. The school is also adding an elevator and new climate-control systems to facilitate year-round programming for the first time.

“The renovated space will also allow the curatorial team greater flexibility to program a wide range of contemporary art, from immersive, large-scale site-specific installations to delicate works on paper,” MassArt said in a May 8 release.

The school is using $12.5 million from its UNBOUND capital campaign to pay for the new contemporary art museum.

“A teaching museum, MAAM will be a resource for MassArt students and faculty, educating students about contemporary art, partnering with faculty to support the curriculum, and preparing students for careers in the museum field,” the school said in that May release.

“The museum will be a vital resource to the community, offering a pathway to education in the arts and free, unique educational programming to Boston-area public schools and community groups.”