The Worcester Art Museum has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to fund the design and development phase for a long-term installation of the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, which the museum acquired in 2014 after the Higgins Armory closed in 2013.
The museum plans to open an Arms and Armor gallery by the end of 2023, where it will display nearly the entire 2,000-object collection of gallery displays and open storage.
“The ultimate result will be a stunning display of beautiful objects, but more importantly, it will offer a personalized visitor experience that capitalizes on the powerful popular appeal of arms and armor to engage existing audiences and draw new visitors to the museum,” said Jeffrey Forgeng, the Higgins curator of arms and armor and medieval art at WAM, in a statement.
At the same time, the museum has also been awarded a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of its teen programing, and a $10,000 relief grant from Mass Humanities, provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the CARES Act.
“This financial support for the Worcester Art Museum benefits all corners of our community by helping us transform lives with enriching programming,” said Matthias Waschek, WAM’s Jean and Myles McDonough director, in a statement.
The Worcester Art Museum plans to reopen to the public on Wednesday, following a lengthy closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
