New York Avenue Sculpture Project to Create Cultural Gateway in DC
The National Museum of Women in the Arts has teamed up with the Downtown BID, the DC Office of Planning and other agencies to begin work on a New York Avenue Sculpture Project. The project will transform the public environment along one of DC’s major boulevards into an outdoor sculpture gallery featuring contemporary works by world-renowned women artists. The works will be displayed in temporary installations for one to three years in four medians located between Herald and Mt. Vernon Squares. Artist Niki de Saint Phalle, known for her whimsical works celebrating women and cultural diversity, has been selected to inaugurate this new public art exhibition. Her works will go on display this spring, and the full installation will be completed in 2015.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater Coming Fall 2010 
The new Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will boast some exciting upgrades for longtime fans and actors. Three theaters will serve as the architectural focal points, supported by state-of-the-art technology and spacious workspace for rehearsals, set design, construction and administrative services. The new Arena Stage will address audience needs, as well. Ensconced in the design is a large, common lobby with a grand staircase that helps link all three theater spaces both visually and geographically. In addition, the new facility will feature a vastly increased number of restrooms in several locations; a single, efficient Box Office serving all audiences; readily available concessions and an onsite café; as well as easy access to all areas of the building for persons with disabilities.

Construction Begins on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
In late October 2009, the National Capital Planning Commission gave final approval to a new security configuration, clearing the way for construction to begin on the memorial. It will be the first major memorial along the National Mall to be dedicated to a person of color, and to a non-president. The structure will commemorate the life and work of Dr. King, honoring his contributions to international world peace through non-violent social change. The design features include a crescent-shaped-stone wall inscribed with excerpts of Dr. King’s sermons and public addresses, as well as a 30-foot likeness of Dr. King as the centerpiece. The expected completion date is summer 2011.

Inflatable Addition Planned for Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
The Hirshhorn Museum is planning an eye-catching project aimed to affirm its commitment to enhancing public understanding of contemporary art. The plan is to have a nearly 145-ft tall inflatable structure sitting in the Hirshhorn’s courtyard, ballooning through the top of the building. It will be visible from all sides of the museum and will transform its public space into a seasonal auditorium, café and meeting place filled with activity. If the project continues to move forward, the first installation of the seasonal pavilion will be May 2011.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Coming in 2015
The Smithsonian Institution is developing its latest museum on the National Mall, the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum will be located between 14th and 15th Streets, adjacent to the Washington Monument and across from the National Museum of American History. While the museum’s content is currently under development, it will explore African American history on a national level, examining such topics as slavery, the Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance and the civil rights movement. The architectural team Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup will design the museum.

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