The Nassau County Museum of Art Director Karl E. Willers, Ph.D., announced that construction has begun on The Manes Family Art and Education Center, with plans to open this dedicated education and exhibition space during 2017.
“We are very excited about this new space that builds upon the many exhibition and education initiatives at Nassau County Museum of Art,” said Willers. “Museum programs invite members of our community to look at, talk about, and make art.”
The Manes Center, possible because of a generous naming grant from Museum Board Member Dr. Harvey Manes, will feature a central exhibition space to showcase contemporary art. This exhibition space will be surrounded by labs or learning spaces dedicated to promoting the highest quality art education experiences for audiences of all ages.
The labs will highlight and celebrate the unique qualities of visual arts learning with programs designed to address the multiple learning styles, interests and abilities of visiting adults and children. Among the learning spaces is a multipurpose Hands-On Studio Lab that will host programs for school groups, adults and families, offering hands-on studio art experiences.
The Indoor/Outdoor Lab will offer both self-guided and guided activities to encourage family groups to explore the connections between art and nature.
The Reading Resource Lab will provide the opportunity to leisurely browse through a selection of art books, publications and art-related books for adults and children.
The Design Tech Lab will offer an encouraging environment for children, students and adults to engage in a variety of experiences that explore the connections between art, science and technology. This space will investigate the act of design, and integrate traditional methods of art-making with technology.
