The Metropolitan Museum of Manila moving to BGC
AFTER 45 years in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) compound in Malate, Manila, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila will be moving to a new location in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig, the two organizations announced in a joint statement on Thursday.
“We are ushering in a new chapter for our institution as we prepare to reopen in Bonifacio Global City (BGC),” Joselito D.Y. Campos, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the museum, said in a separate statement from the museum.
The new Metropolitan Museum Manila (Met) is scheduled to open by the last quarter of 2021. It will be housed in a new 3,000-square meter space spread over three levels designed by the Filipino-born, Brooklyn-based architect Carlos Arnaiz, said the museum statement.
According to the joint statement, “the BSP will be undertaking redevelopment plans within the BSP complex including the renovation of the building previously occupied by the Met.”
“Decades of partnership and friendship have allowed both institutions to leverage on the expertise and vast collections of the BSP and the Met, thus giving the public access to works of some of the country’s most notable artists.”
“We are excited to be part of the vibrant and emerging cultural hub that BGC has become, and our new location will certainly widen our audience reach,” Tina Colayco, the museum’s president, was quoted as saying in the museum’s announcement. “With the new space, we are reinforcing our continuing commitment to contemporary art. In the interim, we have taken all our activities online, with a robust calendar of webinars, workshops, and events accessible in the virtual arena.”
“The Museum is immensely grateful and appreciative of the support that our sponsors, collectors, institutions, and partners have graciously given us. We also thank the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, headed by Governor Benjamin Diokno, for its partnership of 45 years with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila,” Mr. Campos said.
The Met first opened its doors in 1975 with an exhibit showcasing 105 artworks in various media from the Brooklyn Museum and other American museums and galleries. The building was designed by Gabriel Formoso. — MAPS
