Recycling in Roanoke

inside out
By Bobbi A. Hoffman
Reason
By Bobbi A. Hoffman
great#10
Cultural Amenities
The Taubman Museum of Art
Eight years after the City of Roanoke donated an empty lot on Salem Avenue, the
new Taubman Museum of Art rises dramatically from the spot, creating a modern
gateway to the city. The museum’s award-winning design— with its peaked and
curved roofline— confirms the city’s commitment to the arts and its desire to
become a more popular destination for cultural tourism.
“We are thrilled to be at the end of construction for this stunning facility, and we
look forward to opening our doors on Nov. 8 to provide our community with a
spectacular setting in which to enjoy and explore art,” says Georganne Bingham,
executive director of the museum.
The Nov. 8 grand-opening celebration begins at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony, followed by tours, entertainment, and activities— both inside and
out— from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dance and musical performances, including the
William Fleming Drum Corps, and children’s crafts and puppet shows are on tap.
The day’s events are free and open to the public.
“It’s a time for the community to celebrate the opening of the Taubman Museum,”
says Kimberly Templeton, the museum’s director of external affairs. She expects as
many as 12,000 visitors on opening day. Visitors who want to enter the museum at
a predetermined time can obtain free “time tickets” from the museum’s Web site.
Architect Randall Stout and benefactors Ambassador Nicholas and Jenny Taubman
will be on hand for a week of festivities, including a black-tie gala, a dinner for
donors, and a members’ preview.
At 81,000 square feet, the Taubman Museum nearly quadruples the size of the
museum it replaces. New spaces include a café, auditorium, theater, library,
and terrace.
Gallery space triples, which Templeton says “will allow us to bring in the kind of
temporary exhibits we’ve never had the opportunity to have before. It will make
a huge difference in the quantity and quality of exhibits.”
Visit www.TaubmanMuseum.org for more information about the grand opening
and upcoming events. n
Center in the square
When Center in the Square opened to much
fanfare in 1983, the Art Museum of Western
Virginia was one of the original organizations
housed in this groundbreaking facility. But the
museum’s departure this fall is not so much
a problem as an opportunity for Center to
reinvent itself for the future.
Center’s plans include updates to and
remodeling of the spaces occupied by the
History Museum of Western Virginia, the Science
Museum of Western Virginia, and Mill Mountain
Theatre. Center has also extended an invitation
to the Harrison Museum of African American
Culture to move into the complex, which could
happen as early as spring 2009. The atrium and
the building’s entrances will be revamped to
make them more visible and inviting.
Center in the Square’s overhaul will also include
more “programmable” public space, using about
10,000 square feet carved out of the former Art
Museum area. Possible uses include a cyber
café, retails shops, and other venues to appeal
to younger audiences. This kind of space is
an important component for many museums,
because the income it generates can help offset
operating expenses.
All told, Center in the Square’s improvements
promise to make it an even more dynamic
presence in downtown’s cultural scene.
12 ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 For city services or information, visit www.roanokeva.gov