Much-Needed Improvements Slated at Diggs
[pullquote]We are delighted that we are finally able to pursue some significant upgrades to the facility and much credit goes to Provost Brenda Allen for jumpstarting our recession-stalled renovation plans[/pullquote]For the first time since it opened in 1990, the Diggs Gallery on the campus of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), will undergo major renovations designed to improve its ability to attract new exhibits and increase its impact on education.
The project, which will exceed $200,000, began in November, and it is anticipated that the renovations will be completed in the spring of 2013.
“We are delighted that we are finally able to pursue some significant upgrades to the facility and much credit goes to Provost Brenda Allen for jumpstarting our recession-stalled renovation plans,” said Belinda Tate, director of the gallery. “We will be adding advanced security cameras and improved lighting, which will have a tremendous impact on the caliber of works we will be able to attract for the university’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, which can help grow our relevance to a larger art universe. Plus, we will be able to continue to provide audiences with exhibits that run the gamut from traditional to cutting edge.”
The renovations are designed to create a fresh look for Diggs and one that is different from other galleries in the area. While a new climate control system was added more than 10 years ago, the gallery has continued with its black ceiling and outdated lighting. When the renovations are complete, the gallery will have an espresso-colored engineered hardwood floor, refurbished walls and a lighter ceiling to create the look of a more open and contemporary art space. In addition to the work in the gallery, a conference room wall will be removed to create more reception space and there will be new carpet in the hallway.
Beyond just the changes to the space, the gallery is documenting its entire collection to identify additional objects that can be used in WSSU public spaces and classrooms. The goal is to make artwork more accessible for faculty and students through the Internet and more visible outside of the gallery walls.
