The organization announced yesterday (PDF here) that it has purchased the ground floor and lower level of 250 Bowery, giving it a permanent home for the first time in its 40-year history.
The new location will expand the Swiss Institute's footprint from roughly 7,000 square feet on St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue to 11,000 square feet.
A renovation by the architecture firm Johnston Marklee is set to begin this fall, with the new space expected to open in the spring of 2027 near Stanton Street on the Lower East Side.
The museum said it will continue to offer free admission and plans to use the larger space for exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives and community events. Sunday is the last day on St. Mark's.
The Swiss Institute debuted at 38 St. Mark's Place in 2018 after relocating from Tribeca. During its time in the East Village, the nonprofit became known for its free exhibitions, public programming, and bookstores (including Printed Matter) ... not to mention a landscaped roof deck with lovely East Village views.
While work is underway on the Bowery, the Swiss Institute said it will continue presenting exhibitions and programs at off-site locations in New York and internationally.
Back in September 2016, when SI announced its move to the former Chase branch, it felt like one of those rare real-estate surprises that everyone could celebrate. We'd braced ourselves for another chain fast-casual restaurant or other generic retail tenant.
Instead, the neighborhood got eight years of free contemporary art and public programming.
While SI isn't moving far, its departure is another meaningful cultural loss for the East Village — and the latest gallery to head elsewhere.
The building is available for lease (PDF here), billed as "flagship corner retail" and "all uses considered." There's no mention of the asking rent.
Sad news. The Swiss Institute has been a good neighbor & a real asset to the area. It was also the pick-up location for a CSA.
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