New York Museum of Modern Art Closing its Architecture and Design Galleries

"New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is closing its galleries dedicated to architecture and design," reports William Menking. The architecture and design tradition at MoMA stretches back to the 1960s, with "dedicated spaces reserved for its vast—and ever expanding—collection of nearly 30,000 architectural models, works on paper, design objects, and interiors," explains Menking.

Mekning reports on the details of how the demise of the spaces dedicated to architecture and design will play out. One hopeful note from the otherwise dismal news for fans of architecture and design: "The museum is clear to point out that this does not mean the end of large themed traveling or loaned exhibitions devoted to architecture and design." The museum also says it will continue to collect, conserve, and exhibit new architecture and design pieces.

Menking also includes some discussion about the potential positives that could emerge from the decision, as well as the potential inspiration the MoMA has taken from the Tate Modern in deciding to merge architecture and design pieces into a broader art context.