Spitzer Proposes $12M for African Art Museum

NEW YORK—New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer proposed on Monday $12 million in funding for the Museum for African Art, which, after 23 years of existence, is finally getting a home, reports NewYorkBusiness.com.

Founded in 1984 by Susan Mullin Vogel, the museum has only displayed its collection in temporary exhibitions around New York. Currently the works are being stored in Long Island City.

But now the museum will become the first new addition to the city’s Museum Mile in 50 years, with an $80 million structure at Fifth Avenue and 110th Street, scheduled to open in 2009. In addition to an 85,000-square-foot ground-level facility for the museum, the building will include 116 luxury condominiums. Plans for the new structure were unveiled earlier this year by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The city of New York has already contributed $12 million to the project.