The Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart has opened its new library, the largest expansion in the institution's history.
The project represents a significant shift for the museum by transitioning a private collection into a public resource. By making rare works accessible, the museum integrates literary scholarship with its existing focus on provocative contemporary art.
Located in Tasmania, the facility cost $69 million [1] to complete. The opening was timed to coincide with the conclusion of the Dark Mofo art festival. The library now serves as a permanent home for the private collection of founder David Walsh.
The collection consists of approximately 30,000 items [2]. Among the most notable acquisitions is a copy of William Shakespeare's First Folio, one of the most valuable and sought-after printed books in the world.
MONA first opened 15 years ago [3] as a subversive alternative to traditional galleries. This expansion marks the first time the museum has scaled its infrastructure to such a degree since its inception.
The new space is designed to house a diverse range of texts that mirror the eclectic nature of the museum's art galleries. The addition of the library allows the institution to bridge the gap between visual art and written history, providing a scholarly anchor to the museum's experimental atmosphere.
“The library now serves as a permanent home for the private collection of founder David Walsh.”
The establishment of the MONA Library signals an evolution in David Walsh's philanthropic strategy, moving from the curation of visual objects to the preservation of global literary history. By anchoring the museum with a First Folio and a massive archive, MONA is positioning itself not just as a tourist attraction or a gallery, but as a serious research institution in the Southern Hemisphere.
