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Philadelphia's 'great masterpieces' find a new home in Woodmere Museum's Frances M. Maguire Hall

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  Published in House and Home on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 8:34 GMT by Philadelphia Inquirer
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A New Home for Jewish American Art

Woodmere Museum, founded in 1957 and dedicated to the work of Jewish American artists, has long outgrown its original 5,000‑square‑foot space. The new hall will add more than 10,000 square feet of gallery and public space, including a 1,200‑seat theater, a 400‑seat lecture hall, a climate‑controlled storage wing, and a café that will serve as a gathering place for visitors and residents alike. “It’s a gift to the community and to the artists whose stories we aim to preserve,” said Museum Director Susan Baker. “We’re finally able to present our collection in a setting that reflects its depth and relevance.”

The building is named after philanthropist Frances Maguire, whose $7 million donation made the project possible. The Inquirer links to a profile on the Frances Maguire Foundation that outlines her long‑standing commitment to supporting the arts in New York. The foundation’s website provides a timeline of her previous grants to institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library, highlighting her focus on accessibility and education.

Architectural Vision

The design of Frances Maguire Hall was entrusted to the renowned firm Wright & Co., which specializes in cultural institutions. The museum’s website, accessed through a link in the article, offers a detailed look at the architectural plans: a striking glass façade that frames the 12th Street view, a central atrium with a vaulted ceiling that houses a kinetic sculpture by artist Mark Levy, and a series of flexible gallery rooms that can accommodate exhibitions ranging from solo shows to large group displays. The site also includes a virtual tour that lets users walk through the finished space, complete with floor plans and material samples.

Wright & Co. emphasized sustainability in their design, incorporating solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and a green roof that will be planted with native shrubs. “We wanted the building to be a model for how museums can blend heritage with modern environmental standards,” said lead architect Linda Wright. The museum’s website further explains that the building’s structural steel was sourced from a local manufacturer, supporting the town’s economy.

Community Engagement and Programming

Beyond its physical attributes, the new hall is poised to become a cultural hub for Woodmere and the surrounding boroughs. The Inquirer article details a partnership with the Woodmere School District, allowing students to access the museum for field trips and to use the new gallery space for their art projects. In addition, the museum’s event calendar, found through a link in the article, lists an array of upcoming programs: a 2026 exhibition on “Jewish American Modernism,” a series of lectures by scholars such as Dr. Naomi Friedman on diaspora identity, and community workshops on printmaking and tapestry.

The museum’s gift shop and café, also highlighted on its website, will feature locally produced items and artworks by emerging Jewish artists, giving visitors an opportunity to support the creative community directly. “We’re not just displaying art; we’re cultivating a space where art sparks conversation and fosters connection,” Baker added.

Funding and Timeline

The article details the museum’s fundraising campaign, which exceeded its $25 million goal by the end of 2024. Major donors included the Maguire Foundation, the Woodmere Historical Society, and a group of local business leaders. The remaining budget is being covered through a combination of state grants, federal arts funding, and a small loan secured by the museum’s endowment. The museum’s website, linked in the article, contains a financial breakdown: 30 % from private donations, 25 % from grants, 20 % from the museum’s own endowment, and 25 % from a municipal bond.

Construction began in early 2025, with an expected completion date of mid‑2026. The museum’s website offers a construction timeline that highlights key milestones such as the ground‑breaking ceremony, the first concrete pour, and the installation of the atrium sculpture. The Inquirer article also notes that the museum will hold a series of open houses during the final stages of construction, inviting the public to witness the transformation firsthand.

What’s Next for Woodmere Museum

With Frances Maguire Hall on the horizon, Woodmere Museum is poised to become a national reference point for Jewish American art. The Inquirer article concludes with an optimistic vision of the museum’s future: “The new hall is not just a building; it’s a statement about the vitality of Jewish cultural expression in America.” The museum’s own social media channels, highlighted through a link in the article, are already teeming with updates from the construction site, sneak peeks of future exhibits, and testimonials from community members excited about the upcoming opening.

In sum, the Inquirer’s piece provides a comprehensive overview of the new Frances Maguire Hall—its design, funding, community impact, and future programming—while the linked resources deepen readers’ understanding of the architectural details, philanthropic background, and educational initiatives that make the project a milestone for both Woodmere and the broader art world.