Garrison Lobby / Photo: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art on Wednesday announced a $10 million gift from the Pamela and Wayne Garrison Family Foundation.
The money will be used to support programs and interactive art installations that is appealing to people of all ages. In return, the museum’s newly renovated lobby area will be named the Pamela and Wayne Garrison Family Foundation Lobby, or the Garrison Lobby.
“This generous gift from Wayne, Pam, and Alexandra embraces Crystal Bridges mission of welcoming all—and especially welcoming families to have fun together,” said Alice Walton, the museum’s board chair, in a news release. “It’s fitting that the lobby is named for this family who cares deeply about the positive role of the museum in our community.”
Garrison Lobby / Photo: Crystal Bridges
The family-oriented programs and installations will be designed to explore art, spark imagination, and celebrate joy among multigenerational families, according to the release.
“We are thrilled thinking about the number of families that will benefit from these kinds of experiences, and we know that Crystal Bridges, which has been offering great family experiences for a decade, will continue to spark imagination and exploration through art in creative ways,” said Alexandra Garrison Neville. “We look forward to watching families have life-changing experiences at Crystal Bridges.”
The Garrison Lobby was recently updated to be more spacious, offer protection from inclement weather, and provide new programming opportunities. The lobby and former courtyard area are now enclosed in a glass dome, which has a shade to provide protection against the sun.
Garrison Lobby / Photo: Crystal Bridges
Other renovations include a new information wall; a path from the lobby to the elevators that lead to the library; and new furniture. New kiosks are scheduled to soon be installed for checking in and and purchasing tickets.
Earlier this year, Crystal Bridges announced plans to increase the museum’s size by 50%, adding nearly 100,000 square feet of space for more galleries and programming opportunities.
