Art Museum gets new name

It proudly rises from the ground in downtown Roanoke transforming the Star City’s skyline. And now there’s a transformation for its name. It’s no long the Art Museum of Western Virginia. Instead, it will now bear the name of Jenny and Nicholas Taubman.

They are the driving force behind the new museum on Salem Ave. They’ve given 15-million to it and helped raised tens of millions more. As such, the museum will now be named the Taubman Museum for Art.

WARREN: “What do you think about having it named after your and your husband?

TAUBMAN: “Frankly, Nick and I usually do anonymous gifts. We debated a great deal about this.”

But, ultimately they decided a new name will encourage others to give. But with a new name are we losing something? I put that question to Dr. Ed Murphy, the chair of the museum’s board of trustees.

WARREN: “Was there a concern that by taking the Art Museum of Western Virginia out of the name you’re taking away some of its identity?”

MURPHY: “I don’t think so.”

Instead, Dr. Murphy believes the new name will “only help to foster the broader reach and reputation of the museum.”

Taubman agrees.

“We never thought about it,” she said. “As a matter of fact, Jay, between you and me a lot of people have told me thank God.”

She says the old name was confusing and too long. As for the new museum, Taubman enthusiastically proclaims “It will be the happening place.”

It’s a happening place with a new name.