Hispanic Society to relocate

New York's Hispanic Society of America has announced plans to move its stellar collection of Spanish and Latin American art, decorative art, photographs, rare books and manuscripts from the upper reaches of Manhattan to a more central location. Since 1904, the society has occupied a landmarked Beaux-Arts building, part of the Audubon Terrace complex at Broadway and 155th Street, which cannot be altered or expanded. Not only are the offices cramped and below ground, but the galleries lack climate control and there are no elevators. As reported in the Art Newspaper, the museum receives only about 10,000 New Yorkers annually (20,000 visitors overall), even though admission is free and the collection boasts major works by Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Zurbaran, Ribera and Murillo.

One board member told the New York Times that the society might need to raise $300 million to pay for land and construction of a new building, and to double the current endowment of about $60 million, which currently provides most of the $2.8-million operating budget. The Spanish government has indicated that it might pledge funds to help with the relocation. Trustees have reportedly been scouting sites in Battery Park, Chelsea and Midtown.

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