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Currier Museum of Art

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The Currier Museum of Art is located in Manchester, New Hampshire at 150 Ash Street. The museum was founded in 1929, as the Currier Gallery of Art. In the 1890s, former New Hampshire Governor Moody Currier and his wife, Hannah Slade Currier developed the idea to found an art museum. After the death of both Moody and Hannah, a board of trustees was appointed to construct their wishes. Even though he was not an art collector, Moody Currier desired to establish an art museum, “for the benefit and advancement of humanity.” The then-director says the gallery’s name was changed in 2002 in order to recognize “the Currier’s true mission and clarifies our function for those less familiar with us.” Since then there have been expansions to the museum offices and the museum has bought properties in the area.

Images

Plant, Flower, Window, Door

Building, Fixture, Sky, Door

Sky, Street light, Plant, Gas

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

In 1929, the Currier Gallery of Art was opened fulfilling former Governor Moody Currier and Hannah Slade Currier’s dream to fund the opening of an art museum. The Renaissance-style building was created by Lascari, Salvator, and Tilton & Githens. A great deal of art was able to be purchased with the Currier’s funding. New pavilions were designed by the New York firm Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, in 1982 to accommodate the growing collections, programs, and staff.

The Currier is privately owned but is “dedicated to the social needs of its community.” They are known nationally for their cultural and educational programs that include studio workshops and classes for children and adults. The museum also owns and offers tours of famous houses in the area. One of the houses is the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. In 2019, the museum acquired another of Wright’s creations but it is not open for tours, yet.

Sources

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Hillsborough County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed April 28th 2021. https://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/nh/hillsborough/state.html.

Mission + History, Currier Museum of Art. Accessed April 28th 2021. https://currier.org/about/.

Currier Museum of Art, American Heritage. Accessed April 28th 2021. https://www.americanheritage.com/content/currier-museum-art.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

https://manchesterinklink.com/happy-100th-anniversary-to-the-currier-museum-of-art/

https://www.americanheritage.com/content/currier-museum-art

https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/currier-museum-of-art-309

Additional Information