The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the World Monuments Fund are going to collaborate on a digital project aiming to strengthen the understanding of several historic sites in sub–Saharan Africa, The Art Newspaper reported. The collaboration will be on the occasion of the reopening of previously antiquated galleries of African, ancient American, and Oceanic art in 2024.
The $70 million project will develop the 40,000 sq. ft. galleries in Michael C. Rockefeller wing of the museum and display nearly 3,000 works. The components of the project will be available throughout the galleries and online. The digital art in-gallery resource will feature African cultural landmarks and monuments directly within the Museum’s new African Art Galleries through videos, interviews, archival photos and enhanced online content. The digital resource will provide a more expansive understanding of Africa’s diverse cultural landscapes and creative traditions.
According to The Art Newspaper several scholars of African studies have been signed-up for the advisory committee of the project, including Kwame Anthony Appiah, Max Hollein, Marina Kellen, and Benedicte de Montlaur.
The renovation of the galleries is overseen by the New York-based architect Kulapat Yantrasast of the firm wHY, reports The Art Newspaper.