FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTS RENOVATION/EXPANSION PROJECT
Project Description:
The Flint Institute of Arts (FIA) completed a $12.6 million renovation for the museum and school in September 2005. The FIA expanded its studios from 5,000 to 15,000 square feet and upgraded the storage areas and addressed environmental control issues. The completed renovation now provides increased exhibit space, a new multi-purpose room for large gatherings and special events, an improved auditorium, a new café, state-of-the-art maintenance and storage areas, and an expanded museum school for educational programming. The renovation plan creates 35 additional spaces in the front and a driveway on the West side of the building connecting the front lot with 60 spaces in the back.
Building History:
Built in 1957-1958, the Flint Institute of Art building has received five additions during its nearly 50 year history. Even before the original building was completed, a second story was added to the DeWaters Education Wing. In 1961, the Bray Gallery was added. Further expansion in 1966 created the Ruth Mott Galleries, the Member’s Room, the Hodge Gallery, and the auditorium. With each addition, new elevation levels were designed – levels that made navigation for the disabled more difficult. In 1991, renovations were made to both the north and south entrances to improve access. The improvements could not solve all of the access problems, however. Dead-end galleries required visitors, sometimes in large groups, to backtrack through other large groups in galleries already visited. The placement of offices, galleries, and even the kitchen, next to unrelated spaces made way-finding difficult for the first-time visitor.
Background Information:
The Flint Institute of Arts was founded in 1928 by a group of citizens who felt that the community needed a community art center where students could pursue studio courses and the public could enjoy art exhibitions.
In 1957 the FIA moved into its current location in the cultural and academic heart of Flint. The FIA shares a 30-acre campus-like setting with buildings housing the Flint Institute of Music, Flint School of Performing Arts, Sloan Museum, Longway Planetarium, Bower Theatre and Whiting Auditorium.
Today, the FIA’s collection numbers 6,500 objects and the Museum Art School serves more than 20,000 students annually, with outreach programs serving an additional 17,000 children. The Flint Institute of Arts provides annual services and programs consisting of exhibitions, interpretive programs, film screenings, concerts, lectures, family events and docent tours, serving a total of more than 87,000 adults and children.
For Additional information Contact:
Flint Institute of Arts
1120 E. Kearsley Street
(810) 234-1695 www.flintarts.org
