The economy may still be suffering, and regular donors may still be hesitant to give, but many museums are proving resilient and marching forward with expansion and building plans nevertheless.

The Saint Louis Art Museum has announced that it is on target to break ground for its David Chipperfield-designed expansion next month, which will increase the museum’s gallery and public spaces by a total of 30 percent. Including the cost of establishing an endowment for the additional space, the project is pegged at $161 million, a whopping $145 million of which has already been obtained or promised, according to the museum.

Just about 500 miles away in Lansing, Michigan State University is celebrating its trustees’ approval of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, which has been designed by Zaha Hadid. The philanthropic couple has given $26 million to the university — $18.5 million for the construction of the building and an additional $7.5 for art, operations, an endowment, and a sculpture commission — the largest gift it says it has ever received.

As long as funding is secure, it seems, museums are more than willing to spend it.

Read more at CultureGrrl.