Danforth Museum to open at FSU in 2019

Google The Danforth Art Museum in Framingham this month. The Danforth will officially open as part of Framingham State University in 2019.

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By Grant Welker

The Danforth Art Museum will open as a part of Framingham State University in 2019, when it'll make the university the state's first public school to host a comprehensive art museum.

Danforth, which includes a school, will be known as the Danforth Art Center at Framingham State University, following a merger announced in early September.

The City of Framingham had an option to buy the Danforth building, but voters at the Oct. 17 Town Meeting allowed the merger with the university to move forward.

“We could not be more excited about this opportunity,” Framingham State President Javier Cevallos said in a statement. “Students and faculty involved in our art and history programs are going to have access to a resource found at few public universities across the country.”

The Danforth Art Center will open in 2019 following renovations to the museum's Maynard Building and installation of exhibits, Framingham State announced late last month. A sign outside the building has been changed from a Danforth name and logo to one reading "Framingham State University Community Education Center."

The art museum and university negotiated for nearly a year before reaching the merger agreement. The university committed $4.5 million toward integrating the museum as part of the university, and will make the museum part of its Department of Continuing Education.

CORRECTION: The photo caption in a previous version of this article incorrectly said Danforth Art Museum would be part of Fitchburg State University. It will be part of Framingham State University.