The Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown its expanding and renovating its campus with funds from a $250,000 Cultural Facilities Fund grant from MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Renovations to the facility include adding 2,200 square feet of new gallery space and providing upgraded safety, lighting and HVAC systems for the building.
Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute is a museum and research center known for its extensive art collection, library and graduate program in the history of art in affiliation with Williams College.
The Clark’s overall campus expansion project includes construction of a new 42,560-square-foot visitor center, renovations and upgrades to the museum building, which opened in 1955, and the Manton Research Center, which opened in 1973, a new landscape design and stormwater management system and the demolition of outdated facilities and construction of a new state-of-the-art physical plant. The Clark plans to open its new facilities on July 4, 2014.
A 2012 study by the Economic Development Research Group of Boston concluded that upon its completion, the full campus expansion project will enhance tourism growth in the Berkshires region, generate annual business sales in Berkshire County of $7 million, increase state tax revenues by $323,000 annually and spur creation of about 90 jobs throughout the county to support a broader visitor base.
