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It Starts Here Campaign

Led by architect Frank Gehry, the museum’s landmark building has been transformed with art, community, and Philadelphia in mind through It Starts Here: Campaign for the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Visitors walking around in the Williams Forum

Renewing a Landmark

With renovations completed in March 2021, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is proud to welcome you back to a museum that is more:

Welcoming. Between the newly opened and more accessible entrances, updated amenities, and improved wayfinding, it’s more convenient to come to the museum and easier to get around once you’re here.

Inclusive. Since 2017, we haven’t just built new gallery spaces—we’ve also reinstalled our collections with a focus on artists and stories that have been overlooked for too long.

Philly. Our focus is close to home, both in our permanent galleries, our special exhibitions—even in the products for sale in our stores, made by local artists. And behind our untouched iconic exterior, the 90,000 square feet of new public space creates more room for the art and programs you love.

These improvements were made possible through the It Starts Here comprehensive fundraising campaign.

View all campaign donors and leadership

Beyond improvements to our facilities, It Starts Here includes goals to build the museum's endowment to bring us in line with our peer institutions and to fund special initiatives in education, technology, conservation, exhibitions, and more. With the support of more than 1,000 individual donors and counting, It Starts Here touches every aspect of our work and will prepare the museum to enter our second century of service to our community.


Looking Ahead

We’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s still more to look forward to. Our vision for future changes includes:

  • A major learning center fitting for our role as the city’s art classroom.
  • Even more room for art with new subterranean galleries created beneath the iconic Rocky Steps and East Terrace.
  • A new state-of-the-art auditorium to create a home for public programs like performances and large events.


You can help provide vital support for the museum’s future. Donations of all sizes are welcome through our online giving portal. To learn more about the It Starts Here Campaign and supporting the museum, contact the Development office at 215-684-7750 or giving@philamuseum.org.