One of the largest museums in the USA dedicated to the study of Tibetan and Himalayan art will be closed, but not entirely
New York's Rubin Museum of Art, a treasure trove of Himalayan art with a collection of nearly 4,000 pieces, has announced a bold move: closing its doors in October. Tourists who wish to admire the unique works of art should consider the new model of the cultural and historical center.
Instead of the traditional museum setup, the exhibition will go "without walls" and expand its geographical reach beyond Manhattan. The Rubin's new concept involves actively exchanging the collection and organizing traveling exhibitions. The statement was published on the museum's website.
"In our new incarnation, we are redefining what a museum can be", says Noah Dorsky, president of the museum's board of directors.
The founders of the exhibition, Shelley and Donald Rubin, sincerely believe that the new model will allow them to significantly expand their impact and educate more people about art rooted in Buddhist traditions.
"Building and sharing this collection of Himalayan art has been one of my family's greatest joys. We are excited to embrace what our future as a global museum has to offer," says Shelley Rubin.
The decision to move out of the New York location was made due to a lack of funds. Previously, the V&A's owners had to cut staff and reduce opening hours.
"Significant resources previously spent on building maintenance will now be focused on the collection, exhibitions, programs, and artist community," explains Jorrit Brichy, the museum's executive director, in an email to CNN.