After experiencing substantial damage from a torrential rainstorm in 2022, the Dallas Museum of Art is finally set to begin repairs.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, the water damage resulted in the extended closure of two galleries: the Wendy and Emery Reves collection and the Center for Creative Connections. If all goes as planned, visitors could begin enjoying these closed portions in early 2026.
News of the forthcoming repair work follows the Dallas City Council’s approval of $6 million in funding for the project. The money will be used to hire a construction company to carry out the repairs and will be sourced from the City’s 2022 Severe Weather and Flood Fund.
“This was as quickly as things could move since 2022. So we have been anxiously awaiting construction to start and we’re excited that it will be kicking off very soon,” said Aschelle Morgan, a spokesperson for the Dallas Museum of Art, per KERA News.
According to Morgan, the funds will be used to renovate the Reves and C3 galleries fully, including building new walls, floors, cabinetry, and signage.
“This funding is a necessary step to address the immediate need for restoration and maintain the DMA as a cultural and educational cornerstone of the Arts District and our city. This funding also exemplifies the council’s commitment to supporting the arts in Dallas,” Dallas City Council member Paul Ridley said in a written statement.
Beyond the flood damage repairs, other maintenance is expected at the Dallas institution in the coming years, part of a $20 million investment allocated from the City bond package.
The Dallas Museum of Art was also slated in 2023 to undergo an expansion led by Madrid-based architects Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The husband-and-wife duo were selected following a six-month deliberation that considered over 150 submissions. However, speculation has been growing that the original $150 to $175 million project budget could be far exceeded.
In November 2024, The Dallas Express reported that Agustín Arteaga, the museum’s art director, would step down at the end of 2024. Deputy Director Tamara Wootton Forsyth will serve as acting director while the museum searches for Artega’s successor.