WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News LeaderMuseum Set To Change Soon

A new beginning for Michigan State University's art collection. At the end of the month the more than 50 year old Kresge Art Museum will close to make way for the brand new Eli and Edyth Broad Art Museum.

Michael Rush, Director, Kresge & Broad: "We see this as an extraordinary opportunity for, not just for Michigan State, but for the whole community. Were expecting tens of thousands of visitors to come through the doors."

As construction is underway at the new Eli and Edyth Broad Art Museum, the doors of the 52 year old Kresge are getting ready to close later this month.

Michael Rush: "It's sort of in some ways the fulfillment of a dream of many Kresge supporters who wanted a bigger space or new space to show new art."

But what will happen to the paintings and sculptures that now line the shelves and walls at the Kresge? Director of both museums, Michael Rush, clears up any misunderstanding.

Michael Rush: "I've heard everything from, oh they're going to throw it away, to we'll never see it again, but none of that is true, it's going to be, see, it's going to be seen in dynamic ways in this very new exiting venture."

And a venture it is as the new museum that is just down the road from the old will be three stories, housing around a half-dozen galleries, a way to display art that Rush says is unlike anything around.

Michael Rush: "We will be one of the few contemporary art museums in the world that has a historic art collection. You are going to be seeing a great deal of this collection in a re-engaging way, in a way that is sometimes unexpected, but in a way that is going to enhance people's understanding of the entire history of art."

The Kresge Museum will close for good on July 29th. The new museum is expected to open in late April of 2012.