Framingham State University is set to become the first state university in Massachusetts home to a comprehensive art museum and cultural destination following the approval of the sale of the Jonathan Maynard Building to FSU in October.

The University and the Danforth Art Museum/School have been working on plans to merge for more than a year. As part of the agreement, Danforth Art Museum will become the Danforth Art Center at Framingham State University. The museum’s collection of more than 3,000 pieces of American art will be gifted to the University, including the work of Framingham sculptor Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller.

“We could not be more excited about this opportunity,” says FSU President F. Javier Cevallos. “Students and faculty involved in our art and history programs are going to have access to a resource found at few public universities across the country.”

The Danforth Art Center at Framingham State University will open in 2019 on the Framingham Centre Common, following renovations to the Maynard Building and installation of the exhibits. The center will provide exceptional learning and programmatic opportunities to students and faculty at FSU, particularly those in majors such as Museum Studies, Art History, Painting and Studio Art.

The Center will also be one of the region’s top cultural destinations for the community at large. Danforth Art School will operate as a division of the University’s Department of Continuing Education, offering full range of classes for all age groups and ability levels in a variety of disciplines.

“We know Danforth Art enjoys a deep connection to residents in the Town of Framingham and the wider MetroWest region, and we are committed to ensuring that this agreement serves only to enhance that connection,” says President Cevallos.

“As part of Framingham State University, the Danforth Art Center at Framingham State University has greater potential to serve its broad community as a university and public art museum and community art school,” added Debra Petke, Executive Director of Danforth Art Museum\School. “We see many new opportunities for substantial academic collaboration, creative programming, and more profound community engagement.”