Intrepid Museum awarded grant from New York State Council on the Arts

The Intrepid Museum is excited to receive a $374,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), which will support the Museum’s largest restoration project since 2008 – the opening of the ship’s medical facility, known as Sick Bay. 

This grant is part of a record capital-project funding announcement by NYSCA, which grants over $42 million to 144 capital projects across New York State. The NYSCA award follows a recent award by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to aid in the restoration of Sick Bay, highlighting the noteworthy public backing and significance of this crucial historic preservation endeavor.

Allowing visitors to access more of the ship’s historic spaces has been a longstanding goal of the Museum. Currently, only 44 percent of the ship’s historic spaces are open to the public. Over the next 2.5 years, the Museum will complete the necessary infrastructure work to open up this fascinating historic naval medical facility and adjacent spaces to the public for the first time since the ship's decommissioning.

This project is an important step for the Museum’s next phase. The goal: to create a dynamic and engaging 21st-century curatorial interpretation that brings history to life through immersive stories and exhibitions. These exhibitions will utilize new technologies and augmented and virtual reality elements to inspire every visitor's imagination and allow them to explore the Museum's most intriguing spaces.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant that will help us restore and open Intrepid’s sick bay,” said Museum President Susan Marenoff-Zausner. “Making the ship more accessible is one of the biggest projects in the Museum’s history and is critical in telling the story of Intrepid. We are incredibly grateful for NYSCA’s support in helping us to achieve this important objective.”

“Strengthening our creative sector increases tourism, boosts our economy, and enhances the rich heritage and cultural life of New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “These record grants will support a wide range of diverse and innovative projects at our arts and cultural organizations across the state, helping ensure all who visit will continue to have wonderful experiences for years to come.”  

NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus said, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for this fifth year of significant capital funding. This investment affirms the pivotal role the arts and culture play in our state's economic prosperity. A round of applause to the Intrepid Museum – your transformative project will ensure that our vibrant arts and cultural anchors continue to grow and thrive."

NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said, “These capital project grants are an investment from the people of New York to the people of New York and will have a positive impact on our communities for many years to come. On behalf of the Council and staff, I congratulate the Intrepid Museum and look forward to seeing all that will flourish from this project.”

About the New York State Council on the Arts 
NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, NYSCA will award record funding in FY 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts.

NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's