“We’re really trying to figure out ways that we can get people to come to the museum on a more frequent basis, not just for art,” Roediger said.
The changes — which will cost an estimated $250,000 and may be complete in as little as 90 days — will make the museum more open to meetings, gatherings with friends, even having a drink after work, he said. A private benefactor whom the museum did not identify has agreed to provide $200,000 of the funding.
Walls will be removed and more natural light will be allowed to come through. And with “more regular” hours, museum leaders hope the museum will become more of a local destination, Roediger said.
New hours will “probably be” 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, he said. Sunday hours haven’t been determined yet, he added.
The museum plans to combine its store, the Fifth Third Private Dining Room and cafe spaces into a new open area, accessible from the institute’s General Motors Entrance Rotunda. This new space will allow the cafe to remain open independent of the museum, with more visibility and room for wine tastings and food events, the museum said.
Wi-Fi will also be available in the new space as well as in the museum galleries.
In the museum’s announcement, Jane Black, the institution’s associate director, noted that, according to the U.S. Census, downtown Dayton’s population grew by more than 17 percent in the last decade.
“People live downtown and want great entertainment close to home,” Black said. “That increase in downtown population is something we believe DAI must work to capitalize on, by being both an art museum and an entertainment center.”
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