Exposure Of Art Heightened By Franklin School

By Paula Hess


Those who live in Washington, DC must have seen the Franklin School at least once during their lives. Constructed in 1869, the building that has since been considered a landmark has gone unused for quite some time. However, it appears as though there is to be new life breathed into this building but what exactly will come of this, one has to wonder? Those who learned from schools specializing in art may be the most intrigued to see what is in the future of the Franklin Building.

According to a report on Washington City Paper, the Franklin School will be utilized in order to house an art museum with a tremendous amount of wealth. A number of mediums and types of art will be incorporated, some of the examples being, "contemporary art, sculpture, installations, and performances." The article also made mention of a restaurant and cafe being put into place as well. To me, this means that there will be far more of a social aspect added which few museums seem to possess.

What's just as worthy of note, though, is how the Franklin School will be given new life after not being utilized for so long. Keep in mind that the school was used for a number of purposes during its time, one of said purposes being a homeless shelter. However, this did not last, as the shelter was closed in 2008, which elicited quite a bit of criticism. In spite of this, the school was left unused, serving as a landmark and nothing more.

Of course, there's the idea of employment to consider with this upcoming museum as well. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor Hoskins commented on the matter, saying that this could, "create new jobs and provide educational and mentoring programs." Those who hold an interest in art will probably be happy to know about this, as it is able to open up potential jobs for them to take up. What about those who specialize in retail, seeing as how the museum will not only hold an eatery but a bookstore as well?

No matter where one can go, it goes without saying that there will be, at least, a few buildings that are unoccupied. Whether a business has finally been closed down or not, it's apparent that the structures left behind can still be of use. Granted, the structures in question have to be steady and sturdy alike. Fortunately, the state of Washington recognized this and the construction of a new museum is underway. This should prove engaging for both residents and tourists alike.




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