257 replies to this topic

[burt]

I've learned that VMFA has added 10 more telephones and secured additional volunteers to man them.  They're going to have to hustle since the exhibit must attract about 200,000 over the three-month run to break even. The first month brought in just short of 75,000.

I think the three months in Seattle prior to Richmond drew  over 400,000.

Edited by burt, 25 March 2011 - 03:59 PM.

[540_804]

I wish I could afford to quit my job; I'd love to volunteer at the VMFA. But between work and school.....I'm not sure where I would find the time.

[wrldcoupe4]

This Washington Post article is not only a nice hat tip to VMFA, but also to the changing perceptions and vibe of Richmond.

Richmond's art is so fine - Washington Post

[wrldcoupe4]

Wow, I had no idea hosting this exhibit cost $5 million.

http://www.post-gaze...1132803-437.stm

[burt]

Richmond, at last, is earning its way to top-level respect in the world of arts and sports.  And if VMFA loses a small portion of its $5 million investment in bringing the Picasso exhibit to town, think what it's doing for the city's image!

Last December, The Richmond Ballet's production of THE NUTCRACKER was rated by The New York Times as the best among 27 cities in America
.
Yesterday, the annual French Film Festival, the largest in the USA, wrapped its four-day run in Carytown after bringing 22,000 viewers into The Byrd Theatre.

And now the nation's attention is focused on the VCU Rams and their advancement to basketball's NCAA Final Four.


Richmond is arriving on the scene, folks.

Edited by burt, 28 March 2011 - 09:52 AM.

[burt]

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts re-opened May 1, 2010 after massive renovation.  In the year since, growth from practically every standpoint has been phenominal.

Check these figures compiled by Museum staff and posted by Roy Proctor in the Richmond Times Dispatch:

http://www2.timesdis...now-ar-1000650/

On another note, 200,000 visitors were expected to view the three-month long Picasso exhibit.  With one week remaining, 189,000 people have come through the Museum's doors with the express purpose off viewing the Picasso art.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...sso-ar-1017412/

Edited by burt, 08 May 2011 - 12:05 PM.

[burt]

While figures are being gathered at VMFA after Picasso, Museum officials are preparing for the next blockbuster.  

FABERGE REVEALED opens July 9th for three months with a closing date set for October 2nd.

I bet a quarter it will draw a larger audience than Picasso.  To begin with, over 500 pieces of the famed jeweler's work will be on display -- the largest exhibit of its kind in the USA. It will includes VMFA's private collection of several Faberge Russian Easter Eggs.

Secondly, the museum's marketing manager and his staff must have learned from the debacle of ticket sale procedures in the early days of the Picasso show.

And third, members and new visitors were generally entranced by the museum itself and will want to return.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...res-ar-1043527/

[burt]

According to a fund-raising release, Richmond's Virginia Museum of Fine Arts at The Boulevard and Grove Avenue has had over 700,000 visitors since its grand reopening last May.  The Picasso exhibit accounted for about a third of that figure.

FABERGE REVEALED goes on display for three months beginning July 9th.

Edited by burt, 23 June 2011 - 10:31 AM.

[burt]

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts attracted 700,000 visitors in the fiscal year ended June 2011.  That includes 230,000 who viewed the Picasso Exhibit on loan from Musee National Picasso in Paris.

Meanwhile, The Metropolitan Museum in New York announced today that 5.6 million entered the 5th Avenue building and the uptown Cloisters Museum during their 2011 fiscal year.  The Met also hosted a Picasso show last summer collected from sources other than the Museum National Picasso.  It, alone, drew over 700,000 visitors.

The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art is Number one in America; VMFA in Richmond is the tenth largest contemporary art museum in the nation.

From today's RTD:

http://hosted.ap.org...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

Edited by burt, 22 July 2011 - 10:35 AM.

[burt]

While Egyptian mummies and other artifacts from the British Museum will begin attracting throngs to the interior this Saturday, Ed Slipek has enthusiastic words for the developing Sculpture Garden outside of The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1633572

[TBurban]

I'm not sure if this rendering of the First Freedom Center has been shared here yet, but here it is directly from the PFVS Architect's website:



According to the Richmond Parcel Mapper-Land Use Projects, "DRC 1/11/2012" is the last action taken with this project.  I'm not up to par on what DRC stands for but the project is still actively under review as of 1/11/12.

[540_804]

Not 100% sure but I think DRC = Design (or Development) Review Committee.

[TBurban]

Ah, that makes sense.  Thanks for clarifying

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Although I love modern and contemporary buildings masking the city skyline, I'm all for this project. Note the lovely modernistic sculpture at the end that causes the building to sort of curve at the far right. Now that is a nice touch. Anymore news on this? I'm glad these guys are pursuing plans for this. A Courtyard I'm hoping is much sought after in downtown. Bringing it here will add to the number of available hotel rooms to the people flocking here in 2015.

[wrldcoupe4]

This would be an awesome in-fill project. The First Freedom monument on the corner is a nice touch. Hope they break ground soon.

[burt]

Paul Hammond has revived a story he did on December 29th about the Governor awarding $600,000 for the reclamation of the Leigh Street Armory.  It is supposed to become the new home of the Black History Museum which is now located on West Clay Street in Jackson Ward.

From Greater Jackson Ward News:

http://www.gjwn.net/...-street-armory/

[burt]

Dreams of a slavery mueum in Shockoe Bottom are still alive and well.  Click the link in the story to see video.

From Richard Hayes at Shockoe News blog:

http://shockoenews.c...shockoe-bottom/

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

burt, on 17 February 2012 - 02:17 PM, said:

Dreams of a slavery mueum in Shockoe Bottom are still alive and well.  Click the link in the story to see video.

From Richard Hayes at Shockoe News blog:

http://shockoenews.c...shockoe-bottom/

I'm so glad. A national slavery museum in RVA would generate more tourism and money to the city, and (as I've said for every other proposal ) if completed by 2015, it would only be another interesting and cool thing for all those spectators to do when in RVA. Also, this dream is quite a compliment to the Shockoe Revitalization. Along with the Main St. Station train shed project, this would be like the flagship project as part of the Shockoe revitalization.