[music playing] ANNOUNCER: The following program is a production of Ozarks Public Television.

Welcome to "Sense of Community."

I'm your host, Gregory Holman.

The Springfield Art Museum has a rich history going back to 1928 and even before.

A group of seven women, led by an arts instructor for what is now Missouri State University, started an art study club.

Later, it was incorporated as a museum.

And after World War II, the museum was deeded to the city of Springfield.

And for many years, the art collection was on view at City Hall.

Today, Springfield Art Museum has its own campus in Phelps Grove Park with free admission for everyone.

And as time ticks toward the 100th anniversary in 2028, the museum is in the middle of a major overhaul.

Joining us this time on "Sense of Community" is Nick Nelson, Director of Springfield Art Museum.

He'll share what we can expect from the museum over the next few years as it pursues a big renovation intended to support the museum's vision to serve as collaborator and catalyst for the transformation of individuals and the community through art.

Please stay tuned.

ANNOUNCER: Welcome to "Sense of Community."

"Sense of Community" is a public affairs presentation of Ozarks Public Television.

Nick Nelson, welcome to "Sense of Community."

It's great to be here.

Thanks for having me.

I'm always excited to come and talk about the museum.

Well, let's talk about the museum.

NICK NELSON: All right.

So today our conversation, it's happening in early summer.

This is going to air in mid-summer.

But the first thing that I want to talk about today is the Springfield Art Museum is open in Phelps Grove Park right now through the 1st of September, even though we have a big renovation plan coming up.

Can you just start us out, what is going on with the museum from now through that end of August time?

Well, so we have a lot of things going on.

I was saying I had to bring my notes because we have so much I don't want to miss anything.

But we have some really great exhibitions up, one being "Breadth, Light, and Distance," which is an exhibition from our permanent collection that focuses on health care and wellness, mental and emotional wellness included.

And it's just as the name, the title suggests.

It's artworks from the collection that suggest this idea of breath and light and distance.

So a lot of really wonderful landscapes.

And a tremendously topical theme right now.

Yes, absolutely.

More and more museums are focusing on their role in wellness in their communities.

And this exhibition is curated by our museum educator, Joshua Best.

And it includes pulse points and places where you can check your heart rate and see how the art affects your state of mind.

And you know, we also have a wonderful exhibition of Renaissance works on parchment and prints, prints on paper, which is curated by Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives of MSU, Missouri State.

Missouri State University Art Department.

NICK NELSON: Art-- yeah, Art and Design Department.

She and her students put together this show, and it's a fascinating glimpse into the changes in media going back, you know, hundreds of years ago.

We think of today as a time of a lot of turmoil and change in media.

But, you know, in the Renaissance, it was pretty-- it was pretty heady days.

We have Watercolor USA, of course, which is, you know, a much loved summer tradition at the museum.

And then we have a new experience that will be coming online, our community drawing room, which will-- you know, we're taking a gallery and putting paper up on the wall.

People can come in and do drawings, doodles, write poetry, or whatever-- whatever way they choose to express themselves.

So there's a lot going on at the museum.

We have some family days and some other programs planned.

August 10, we'll have a family day with our generous support of Edward Jones.

And we also have-- we're also planning or will be planning some things to kind of celebrate or commemorate the building as we move out.

So we'll be really busy.

Things will be happening.

We are still open, and we invite the public out to enjoy their museum through September 1.

You can visit our website or our social media channels to kind of see what those scheduled events are and keep up to date.

Yeah.

Sure.

Now, I'm a little fixated on September 1, if you couldn't tell.

What is happening with the museum around that day, and can you just-- how does that fit into the big picture for the museum and the museum's approach to being part of this overall city comprehensive plan we have in Springfield called Forward SGF?

What's going to happen September 1?

So well, I'll start with that.

September 1, we are closing down our facility at 1111 East Brookside Drive.

And I have to make sure people understand we are not closing the museum.

GREGORY HOLMAN: The museum is not going away!

The museum is not going away.

It will be active.

It will be programming in the community, and we've got lots of exciting things that we're planning for that.

But we will need to start construction, or we do plan to start construction end of December, January, so end of 2024, beginning of 2025.

And you know, moving everything out, putting away the art, storing everything, getting ready for that, that mobilization of construction will take some time.

So we're taking-- starting the month of September to put all the art in storage, clean out our offices and get ready to move into the next phase, which will be programming out in the community.

And we're currently looking for a temporary location.

So a lot going on.

We will be very active.

We'll be out in the community, serving the community.

Not closed, just our facility at 1111 East Brookside drive will be under heavy renovation and expansion and construction.

So it's just not going to be a place where anybody's going to want to go other than somebody who's a construction worker.

So in terms of the bigger picture, I think this is one of a number of really transformative projects for our community that take those ideas and really the feedback that was taken during Forward SGF.

Forward SGF is, of course, the city's comprehensive plan.

GREGORY HOLMAN: Approved here a couple of years ago.

It's rolling.

NICK NELSON: Yeah, and you know, every city in Missouri has to have a comprehensive plan, but it's a great opportunity for the city to look into the future, 20 years into the future, and say, where do we want to be?

What kind of city do we want to be?

What kind of community do we want to be?

There was a remarkable influx of input and public engagement running up to this comprehensive plan.

And, you know, I attended some of these events.

You know, you had a ballroom with 800 people in it or something like that, all giving their opinion about the future of the city.

And one of the things that has come out of that, or the North Star for Forward SGF, is this idea of quality of place.

And the museum really is one of these premier quality-of-place projects for our community.

And so we'll be really excited to get underway building that for our community.

GREGORY HOLMAN: And if I were to sum up what the city officials might say-- you're a city official, of course.

Yeah.

GREGORY HOLMAN: But the other-- the other ones.

The other ones, yeah.

If I were to sum up what they might say about quality of place, the idea is making Springfield a place where people really want to be.

So-- so creating places within the city that are destinations and generally nourishing the city as a place where people want to be for a variety of just wonderful human development reasons.

Yes.

Fair enough?

Yeah, I think absolutely that's a good-- good definition or a good [inaudible].

So to recap, it's going to be enough renovation-construction that it's taking several months to get ready for that, to make sure the art is secure and all these aspects.

After September 1 and the museum goes into temporary closure mode, how long is that going to last as far as the construction on the main building there off Brookside Drive in Phelps Grove Park?

Well, we're-- we're still working through that as we finish up construction documents.

We're using construction-- what's called a Construction Manager at Risk delivery method, which is kind of similar to-- I don't want to get-- I guess I shouldn't get too far in the weeds, but it's sort of like a design build.

Like you hire a contractor who comes in and gets an architect, and they work together on a project.

So as we-- as we work through the final construction documents, we'll have a better understanding of-- of timelines.

GREGORY HOLMAN: But it's not going to be like a week.

This is a major-- Oh, no, no, no.

This is a major-- a major project that touches every-- every portion of the museum.

So, you know, I think, you know, just straight construction, you know, 24 months, 18, 24 months, but then you also have to think about procurement of equipment and materials, which we want to make sure we give ourselves plenty of time to think about that.

You know, every construction project of late has had supply chain issues.

So we want to make sure that we're not-- we're under-promising and overdelivering on the timeline of the project.

And then the other thing that people have to understand is once the building is built, we still have to move back in.

And that will take time.

We have to reinstall all the art.

We need to make sure that the-- the climate control systems are right.

We need to prepare everything for an opening that is going to suit the community.

So it will take us time beyond just the construction to-- Sure.

--to move back in and-- and get everything ready for the public.

In a way that a lot of people can understand.

This is a multi-year.

NICK NELSON: Yes, this is a multi-year process.

Much like City Hall's renovation.

NICK NELSON: Yeah, we're looking at two to three years.

Yeah.

All told, we-- you know, we're looking '27, 2027.

2027 sometime with this.

And it will, I assume, be some kind of a grand reopening type-- Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Absolutely.

Because we have a couple of really wonderful things happening at the same time, the grand reopening of this facility, but then also the 100th anniversary of the museum in 2028.

So it's going to be a big, big deal for us.

It's going to be a big deal for the community, and we want to make sure we're making it a big deal.

So it'll be really exciting.

Now, you've alluded to this a little bit in what you've already said, but during this two to three year period, what kind of activities are going to be going on?

What kind of energy is the museum bringing when its actual central facility is going to be closed?

It sounds like an interesting journey, and I imagine you have some things planned.

Yeah, so we have programs, partnership programs that we already have in place that will be continuing, long-standing museum programs that will be continuing through partnerships.

We also are planning on some outreach programs.

So some examples of that-- we have a program we're planning called Art is Everywhere, which will be art activities, art experiences out in the community and hopefully in unexpected places, you know-- you know, parks, along trails, or with community partners, where, you know, people can experience art outside the walls of the museum in everyday life.

We have collection-connection workshops that we'll be doing with the library.

So we have some of those.

With the library district, Springfield-Greene County Library District.

So we're actually planning on kicking those off in the fall, some of those in the fall.

And we'll continue that.

Of course, we have classes.

We'll continue classes in a temporary location.

Our all-school exhibition, which we've been doing for-- since the '30s, we're going to be moving that to Brick City Galleries at MSU.

They've been gracious enough-- So for anybody who has artistic children-- Yes.

--the all-school exhibition still happening.

It's still going to happen.

GREGORY HOLMAN: It's going to be at Missouri State University, Brick City.

Yeah.

And then, we have our fifth grade field trip programs.

We'll be going into the schools for that rather than-- we won't have a site to bring students, but we'll go to the schools.

And then Watercolor USA, we're partnering with Spiva, the Spiva Center over in Joplin to continue that exhibition.

So 2025 will be at-- Watercolor USA will be at the Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin?

Amazing.

So-- so we're going to continue those, and then we'll be working on other programs in the community, you know, events.

We have our 99 Times.

We have other-- other events that we're producing.

99 Times is your big-- NICK NELSON: Big fundraiser-- GREGORY HOLMAN: --fundraiser party event.

Yeah, so we're looking at all of those.

How do we continue to operate in this new circumstance?

I will say that we moved in our current-- to our current location in 1958.

So prior to that, we were in a variety of locations.

Including City Hall.

Including City Hall.

So it's sort of like we're going, you know, sort of back to the roots of the museum.

But we have an opportunity to deepen our roots in the community through these outreach programs and then being really intentional about where we land and how we serve the community in a temporary location.

Now, these changes are not the only changes.

Like, over the past few years, the museum's already made a lot of changes.

This master plan of renovation was announced back in 2018, and so there's been work happening.

One of-- one of my favorite things when I visit the museum campus in Phelps Grove Park is the renaturalization of Fassnight Creek, and you can see ducks and herons in the creek.

I-- I hear the ducks maybe have nicknames.

Fred and Ginger-- Fred and Ginger-- --are the names of the ducks.

--are the names of the ducks.

They have a little duck family of ducks.

GREGORY HOLMAN: But like, what-- what has been done on that grounds?

My understanding is maybe there's more parking.

I've certainly seen more sculpture.

What-- what has been going on?

So the kickoff of that was the naturalization of the creek.

So you have three major projects that have happened-- the naturalization of the creek, the addition of-- or the beginning of the north parking-- parking lot, and then the trail connection to the Fassnight Creek Greenway Trail.

And those are the three major components of-- of what's-- what's happened there on the grounds.

Naturalization of the Creek was really necessitated by FEMA floodplain remapping.

And we were going to be putting a FEMA floodplain-- Because the floodplain is right there.

Yeah, well, it's-- it's a creek.

You know, it's, you know, running right through our-- our front yard.

And so, you know, rather than just approach it with one-- one challenge or one solution in mind, that project is multi-layered, and it-- it resolves flood mitigation.

It includes, you know, water quality, native habitat for sort of a native urban habitat, and then also just quality of place, you know, creating this really beautiful place that celebrates the natural beauty of the Ozarks.

When we started that planning in 2018, one of the things that became clear as we did our community engagement was the love of nature, the-- how much that's part of the culture here.

And so-- GREGORY HOLMAN: This is what the public told you.

NICK NELSON: Yes, yeah.

And so that became really important.

So-- and also location.

You know, early on, we were-- you know, it was suggested that we relocate because of the floodplain issue.

But that's a really special place, Phelps Grove Park, Phelps Grove neighborhood, University Heights to the south, the trail connections, future potential trail connections.

We're center of the city.

So we really wanted to stay there and create something that would serve the community in multiple ways.

And so there's also accessibility improvements to the amphitheater.

So there's a whole lot going on there in that-- that little footprint.

But we're really proud of-- of what we've built there and how it serves the community.

So already a lot of progress.

So let's talk funding.

This is, I'm sure, a very important thing that you think about a lot of time in your role as director of the museum.

The master plan calls for two phases of construction at a total cost of about $50 million.

Part of the funding is expected from the State of Missouri.

Part is from a special obligation bond series that the city council just approved earlier this summer.

$16 million has been secured from private donations and money from American Rescue Plan Act.

So that's kind of my top line summary.

As far as the funding picture, what do you still need to actuate this vision here for the museum, and how is that going?

Well, we currently have funding for phase I.

So the phase I is moving forward.

What we're working towards is the full project and funding for that.

So, you know, I think you mentioned a state-- some state funding.

That's-- I guess, by the time this airs, that will be resolved.

[laughs] GREGORY HOLMAN: Yeah.

NICK NELSON: Because, you know, we have a state appropriation in the current budget that's on the governor's desk.

GREGORY HOLMAN: The governor has to sign it, and that's a little bit of a question mark.

NICK NELSON: Yeah, yeah.

GREGORY HOLMAN: Yeah.

Are you refreshing your computer?

NICK NELSON: Yes, constantly.

I think if-- if we're fortunate enough to have that come through, we're looking at, you know, $13 or $14 million off the full project budget, which is, you know, over 70% raised to complete the full project, which is really an exciting place to be.

And so we're really going to be pushing to find that funding.

You know, as you know, with construction, time is money, and the longer things take, the more they cost.

And so one of the advantages of this, this Construction Manager at Risk, they provide a guaranteed maximum price.

And if we're able to get that all at-- the full phase complete, then, you know, we won't have surprises in the future.

GREGORY HOLMAN: And this Construction Manager at Risk, that means that the government agency says, we're going to do this project.

The project costs this many dollars, and the construction manager agrees to that and holds to that line.

NICK NELSON: Yeah, that's-- GREGORY HOLMAN: Pretty much.

NICK NELSON: Pretty much.

And they're involved in the design of the-- of the project.

And so it's about cost savings.

But also if you've watched the news, you've seen projects come in with higher than bid.

And bidding is always-- you know, bid opening day is always kind of-- it kind of makes you a little queasy in the stomach sometimes because you never know what you're going to get.

This kind of takes away some of that uncertainty.

So we have an opportunity-- I guess I bring all this up because we have an opportunity to complete the full project with-- if we're able to push and get the-- the remainder of the funding, which is-- It does sound like a lot, but when you're talking about a $50 million project, which will serve the community for decades to come, you know, I think it's-- I think it's something that's really feasible and something we're-- we're pushing towards and want to make happen and are going to be working to make happen.

So we feel like we're in striking distance of it and looking for-- looking forward to the community supporting that, continue to support that through private and public funds.

Sure.

Now, I want to step back from some of these specifics of the present day and the renovations and just talk about the concept of an art museum.

I've heard Springfield Mayor Ken McClure talk about the importance of the arts.

I've heard him give interviews to other journalists and say that.

In his State of the City speech recently, he gave the art museum a shout-out along with some other projects using this transformative project term in keeping with the city's comprehensive plan Forward SGF.

The placemaking we've talked about, Springfield Art Museum has been taxpayer-supported since 1946, roughly.

And my question is sort of big picture.

Why do we need a big art museum here in Missouri's third largest city?

And why should taxpayers pay for the bulk of it?

Well, I think the value that it brings to your community.

So when we think about it as a transformative project, you know, it's transformative in-- in the physical transformation of the museum, but also, I think, in the perception of the community.

I think, you know, thinking really big picture and-- and kind of zooming out, you know, I think that a place like the art museum is a demonstration or an expression, if you will, of the civic ambitions of a community.

Who do we want to be?

Who do we want to become?

What are our dreams?

And so I think thinking bigger-- and again, this is what we got from the community during Forward SGF, but also during the community engagement we did in 2018-- GREGORY HOLMAN: Just on behalf of the museum.

NICK NELSON: Yeah, on behalf of the museum.

GREGORY HOLMAN: So there was the Forward SGF piece of public input, but also museum piece.

NICK NELSON: Yes, but both said, both echoed this idea that people wanted more out of their civic assets.

They want-- they want something visionary that they can enjoy, that they can be proud of.

And I think it's important for that reason.

I think, you know, there are a lot of sort of-- sort of nuts and bolts reasons for-- for this.

I mean, you know, over 50% of our visitors come from out of town, outside of the city.

So those are people bringing their money to go to restaurants and some of them stay overnight.

I think it's somewhere in the range of, you know, 20%, 25%, 28% come from over 75 miles away.

So these are people who are staying in hotels, eating-- eating at restaurants, local restaurants, shopping at local businesses.

They're cultural tourists, so they tend to spend more than your typical traveler.

So a place like the museum attracts that money, out-of-town money.

So when you're thinking of the needs of the city, you know, that's part of the piece of the pie for generating tax revenues.

GREGORY HOLMAN: Or just part of the economic and cultural life of the city.

NICK NELSON: Yeah, the economic impact.

And so we anticipate, you know, once we reopen, and with growth of budget, growth of attendance, you know, our annual-- our annual impact could be, you know, $7 million, $7 million we would bring into the community.

When you add that over-- And is that today, or is that after these renovations?

I think after these renovations.

GREGORY HOLMAN: After these renovations.

Once you calculate that up, even over the 20-year life of, say, a bond or something like that, I mean, that's $140 million, if not more, that comes back to the community.

GREGORY HOLMAN: So as director, you look at that, and you see return on investment.

Yes, I see return on investment.

And not to mention the-- the-- making the community more attractive for business.

You talk about wanting to attract and retain talent.

A big part of making the community attractive for population growth, I mean, that ties into workforce development and workforce issues and attracting business here.

So there are a whole host of really just even if you don't like art, you should like your local art museum and your local arts organizations because they are drivers of your economy, but they also make your-- your community a better place to live.

And they bring a lot of joy to people and-- and kind of are an expression of who you are, your local culture.

GREGORY HOLMAN: That's a wonderful place to leave it.

I can't think of anybody who doesn't like art, but maybe-- maybe out there, there are some.

If you're just joining us on "Sense of Community," we've been talking to Nick Nelson.

He is the Director since 2012 of the Springfield Art Museum.

Nick, thank you so much for joining us on "Sense of Community."

Good to be here.

And we want to leave you where you have more information available.

I'm Gregory Holman.

Thank you for watching our program.

Until next time, goodbye.

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