Danforth Museum receives $500,000 gift

By Sebastian Smee, Globe Staff

Good news for the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham. The energetic and popular but perennially cash-strapped museum has announced a gift of $500,000 from an anonymous donor. The Danforth is in the middle of planning a move from its current location, bedeviled by problems, to a town-owned building on the historic green in Framingham.

Since July, when it received a grant of $30,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, it has been working with Ann Beha Architects on a strategic plan to implement the move.

So the cool half-million comes at a nice time. Despite tough times, attendances, membership, and school enrollments have been up over the past few years at the Danforth. Recent self-generated fund-raising successes may be having a knock-on effect, if this latest gift is any indication.

Above: Danforth Museum of Art, in Framingham (2008/Globe file)