Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Nearly two months after the Buffalo AKG Art Museum re-opened, the Gundlach building re-opens Thursday. The museum's executive director says feedback from patrons has been "amazing."
"In a nutshell, visitor feedback, and staff feedback has exceeded our expectations," says Siren, both in terms of visitor numbers as well as the positive feedback from visitors. "When you are opening an entirely new facility, you always expect to have kinks that you will be working on and fixing, and also sourcing feedback from our visitors and then addressing issues. But I would say that we have been very positively surprised by the amount of positive feedback that we have received," Siren said in an interview with WBEN.
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Siren says big crowds have come since the reopening, especially the Knox and Wilmers Buildings, and he expects that to continue with the opening of underground parking, the Albright Bridge and the Gundlach Building Thursday.
Siren says the expanded museum means more art can be on display at one time. "If in the past at any given time, we would have had, let's say 130 works, approximately depending of course, on the size and shape of a particular artwork or the given exhibition. Now we are just with the Wilmers and Knox Buildings we are at 230 works. And when the Gundlach Building comes online, we'll be more than 400 works on view," notes Siren. He says people will likely stay longer at the museum, and the fact the Knox Building has free admission has also been well received.
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One other thing visitors can expect is what Siren describes as radical hospitality. "It's how we address our visitors. guide them along their their path through the museum, respond to questions, whether it be about art or other things related to the architecture of the museum, for example. It really It means being attentive and responsive at all times when the museum is open," explains Siren.
Siren says the new building has helped boost membership. "It's a great time to join as a member," encourages Siren. He says in the last six months, the museum has welcomed 3,000 new members, an uptick he says has not been previously seen.
There will be an admission charge to the new Gundlach Building of $18 for adults. $16 for seniors and college students, $10 for youth, and free for children 6 and younger.