Framingham's Danforth Museum reopening

Photo/Courtesy The Danforth Art Museum

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By Grant Welker

The Danforth Museum will reopen to the public Sunday in a new location and as part of Framingham State University.

The art museum has been closed since September 2016 when it was forced out of its former home on Union Avenue because of a broken boiler. Framingham State bought the museum building last year for $2.2 million and said it would commit another $2.3 million toward renovations.

Framingham State President Javier Cevallos said he expects the museum to be a valuable resource for students and faculty, in addition to the broader public. The university re-opened the museum for community classes and some courses in January.

University and museum officials and others will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, with the museum opening to the public Sunday at noon.

The museum, which was founded in 1975 and includes American art dating from the early 19th century, is now located in the Jonathan Maynard Building at 14 Vernon St. The third floor of the building hosts Danforth’s community art classes, and the first floor serves as a space for some of Framingham State’s art courses.

The museum is part of the university's Continuing Education Division and is overseen by the FSU Foundation. The school says it's the state's first public school to host a comprehensive art museum.