What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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JANELLE JESSEN jjessen@nwadg.com T he Siloam Springs Museum is moving forward with plans to renovate its current building on North Maxwell Street after receiving approval for $371,000 in funding from the city last month. The renovations will help maximize the current facility's space to make room for a classroom and facilitate rotating exhibits, according to Katie Rennard, museum board president. The changes will also open up the ceilings on the main floor and add a second floor for office space. For several years, the museum considered moving to the old post office on Broadway Street, but when that didn't work out, the board decided to update the current building to meet museum needs. In early 2017, the museum board began making plans for the renovations and met with architect Matt Pearson. The plans were unveiled during the "Walls Talk" event in June. The museum's board of directors announced this month that they received the funding as part of the city's annual budget. The money for the renovations comes from the sale of the old Siloam Springs Hospital and not from tax dollars, according to a press release. The renovation will open walls on the first floor of the museum to create more space for exhibits. A system of interchangeable walls in the middle of the museum will allow museum staff members to tailor them to the needs of different exhibits. A special exhibit room and a classroom will be added to the back of the first floor, along with first floor bathrooms to make the space ADA compliant. Carpeting will be removed to reveal the original hardwood floors underneath, and the hanging ceiling will also be taken down to open up the area, Rennard says. An upper level for office space will be built as a sort of island over the exhibit space. FEB. 6-11 | 8 SHOWS! Series Sponsor: Media Support: " PURE JOY! " — The New York Times Walton Arts Center JANUARY 21-27, 2018 WHAT'S UP! 37 SILOAM SPRINGS Everything Old New Again Siloam Springs Museum gets more flexibility Architectural renderings by Matt Pearson illustrate plans to add an upper floor above the central part of the main floor of the Siloam Springs Museum. The additional space will be used for offices. The addition of the upper floor would free up space in the back of the museum to be used as a classroom. See Siloam Page 38 FAQ Siloam Springs Museum WHEN — 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday WHERE — 112 N. Maxwell St. in Siloam Springs COST — Free INFO — 524-4011 Courtesy Image